at his young companion.

"Anything the matter, sir?" cried Rob, hastening his steps.

"Yes!" cried Brazier hoarsely. "Stand aside, boy! Take care! Out of
my line of fire! You're being stalked by a wild beast!"

Rob stared, looked round, and saw at a glance that the puma had
evidently been hiding among the dead grass and thick growth, but had
been following and watching him ever since he had seen it leap into the
bushes. Then the truth dawned upon him that of course Mr Brazier could
not know what had passed, and there he was with his gun raised to fire.

"Stand aside, boy!" was roared again; and, obeying the stronger will,
Rob sprang aside, but only to leap back.

"Don't fire! don't fire!" he shrieked, but too late. The gun belched
forth rapidly its two charges, and Rob fell and rolled over upon the
earth.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

FRIGHTENED BY FALSE FIRES.

"Naylor--Giovanni--help! help!" cried Brazier. "What have I done?"

As in a voice full of agony Brazier uttered these words, the dense smoke
from the gun which had hidden Rob for the moment slowly rose and showed
the lad lying motionless upon the earth. Shaddy rushed up, dropped upon
one knee and raised the boy's head, while with his keen knife held
across his mouth he looked sharply round for the South American lion,
ready to meet its attack.

But the animal was not visible, and it was directly after forgotten in
the excitement centred on Rob.

"Tear off his clothes! Where is he wounded? No doctor! Run to the
boat for that little case of mine. Here, let me come."

These words were uttered by Brazier with frantic haste, and directly
after he uttered a cry of horror and pointed to Rob's forehead close up
amongst the hair, where a little thread of blood began to ooze forth.

"That ain't a shot wound," growled Shaddy. "Hi! One of you get some
water."

One of the boatmen, who had hurried up, ran back toward the stream, and
just then Rob opened his lips said peevishly,--

"Don't! Leave off! Will you be quiet? Eh! What's the matter?"

As he spoke he thrust Brazier's hand from his head, opened his eyes and
looked round.

"What are you doing?" he cried wonderingly.

"Lower him down, Naylor," whispered Brazier hoarsely; and Shaddy was in
the act of obeying, but Rob started up into a sitting position, and then
sprang to his feet.

"What are you doing, Shaddy?" he cried angrily, as he clapped his hand
to his brow, withdrew it, and looke