n at work in this new direction, and were
getting bark in by the hundredweight.

One day Guapo and Leon had gone by themselves--Guapo to fell the trees
as usual, and Leon, who was now an expert bark-peeler, to use the
scalping-knife. Don Pablo had remained at home, busy with work in the
great magazine, for there was much to do there in the packing and
storing.

An hour or two after, Guapo was seen to return alone. He had broken the
handle of his axe, and, having several spare ones at the house, he had
returned to get one. Leon had remained in the woods.

Now Leon had finished his operations on such trees as Guapo had already
cut down, and not finding a good seat near, had walked towards the
precipice which was farther up the hill, and sat down upon one of the
loose rocks at its base. Here he amused himself by watching the parrots
and toucans that were fluttering through the trees over his head.

He noticed that just by his side there was a large hole or cave in the
cliff. He could see to the farther end of it from where he sat, but
curiosity prompted him to step up to its mouth, and give it a closer
examination. On doing so, he heard a noise, not unlike the mew of a
cat. It evidently came from the cave, and only increased his curiosity
to look inside. He put his head to the entrance, and there, in a sort
of nest, upon the bottom of the cave, he perceived two creatures,
exactly like two spotted kittens, only larger. They were about half as
big as full-grown cats.

"_Two_ beauties!" said Leon to himself; "they are the kittens of some
wild cat--that's plain. Now we want a cat very much at home. If these
were brought up in the house, why shouldn't they do? I'll warrant
they'd be tame enough. I know mamma wants a cat. I've heard her say
so. I'll give her an agreeable surprise by taking this pair home.--The
beauties!"

Without another word Leon climbed up, and taking hold of the two spotted
animals, returned with them out of the cave. They were evidently very
young creatures, yet for all that they growled, and spat, and attempted
to scratch his hands; but Leon was not a boy to be frightened at
trifles, and after getting one under each arm, he set off in triumph,
intending to carry them direct to the house.

Guapo was in front of the house busy in new-hafting his axe. Don Pablo
was at his work in the store-room. Dona Isidora and the little Leona
were occupied with some affair in the porch. All were e