ext?" asked Rob. "If I jump back on board, he'll come
too."

"Safe," said Shaddy; "and there's no more room for passengers. Here,
stop a moment; I have it."

"What are you going to do?" said Brazier, who was watching the movements
of the puma with anxiety on Rob's behalf, but with keen interest all the
same, as he saw the active creature suddenly throw itself down by the
boy's feet and, playful as a kitten, begin to pat at first one boot and
then the other, ending by rubbing its head upon them, watching their
owner all the time.

"I'm going to get Mr Rob aboard without that great cat, sir, and this
seems best way."

He drew his knife, raised the tarpaulin, and cut off a good-sized piece
of the deer meat; then, bidding the men to take their oars and be ready
to row at the first command, he turned to Rob.

"Look here, sir," he said, "I'll pitch you the piece of dried meat. You
catch it and then carry it a few yards, and let the lion smell it. Give
it him behind one of those bushes, and as soon as he is busy eating it
dodge round the bush and come aboard. We'll soon have the boat too far
for him to jump."

He threw the piece of dry meat to the boy, who caught it and walked as
directed, the puma following him eagerly and sniffing at the food.

The next minute those in the boat saw Rob disappear behind a clump of
low growth, and directly after he reappeared running toward them just
as, uneasy at his being out of sight with the fierce creature, Brazier
had called upon Giovanni to bring his gun and accompany him ashore.

But Rob's reappearance of course stopped this, and the next minute he
was on board and being rowed away from the shore.

"It seems too bad," cried Rob, "just as if one was cheating the poor
thing. Look, there it is."

For just then the puma stalked out from behind the bushes and stood
tossing its tail and looking round as if in search of Rob, ending by
walking quickly down to the edge of the lake and standing there gazing
after the boat, which was now being rowed slowly down once more toward
the scene of their adventure with the swift current, Brazier having
decided to stay one more day at the lower part of the lake before
descending the river farther; and the object now in view was the
discovery of a fresh halting-place for the night.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

AN INTERNATIONAL QUARREL.

"What's the matter, Rob?" said Brazier, as he turned suddenly from where
he had been laying various ar