e brute's a bit savage. Only thinks we mean mischief and is
ready to fight for himself. I could be friends with him in an hour or
two. What's best to be done--get him ashore?"

"Yes, as soon as possible."

"All right, sir; you go and tell the men to back the boat in to where we
landed before."

The canvas hangings dropped to, and Shaddy sat perfectly still, watching
the actions of their strange visitor and talking in a low voice to Rob,
while a low creaking began as two of the men forward thrust out their
oars and backed water.

Slight as the sound was, that and the motion of the boat startled the
animal, which began to look about uneasily, but a touch or two from Rob
calmed it directly, and after responding to his caresses it turned to
look curiously at Shaddy, taking a step forward and then stopping.

"Well, what do you think of me, puss, eh?" said Shaddy quietly. "I say,
Mr Rob, you and I had better keep him and set up as lion-tamers."

The rough voice had its effect upon the animal, which ceased its purring
sound and backed away close to Rob, against whom it stood, and began
watching the bank toward which the boat was being thrust.

"How are we to get it ashore?" said Rob at last.

"You want it to go, then?"

"No," replied Rob, "I don't. It is so very tame, I should like to keep
it, but it does not care for anybody else."

"Don't mind me seemingly," said Shaddy. "Well, the best thing will be
for you to jump ashore as soon as we're close in, and then it strikes me
he'll come after you, and if you kept on petting him he'd follow you
anywhere."

"You think so, Shaddy?"

"Feel sure of it, sir, but it ain't like a dog. You can't make a
companion of a scratching thing like that."

"Why not? A dog's a biting thing," said Rob shortly.

"Well, yes, sir, but here we are. Better get him ashore. There ain't
room for him aboard here. There might be a row, for he ain't ready to
make friends with everybody."

Rob stepped on to the gunwale rather unwillingly, for, in a misty way,
he was beginning to wonder whether it was possible for him to retain the
puma as a companion, though all the time he could see the difficulties
in the way.

He leaped ashore, and, as Shaddy had suggested, the puma immediately
made a light effortless bound and landed beside him, pressing close up
to the lad's side and rubbing one ear against his hand, while the
occupants of the boat looked wonderingly on.

"What am I to do n