d was about
to draw the reed to its full length, but eased it back directly and left
go to rub his head.

"See him now, Mr Rob, sir?"

"No," said Rob, looking carefully upward among the branches; and, to his
great satisfaction, not one of the curious little four-handed animals
was visible.

"Right!" said Shaddy. "He has saved his skin this time. Here, take the
bow again. It may be a bird we see next."

"Hadn't we better go back to the river?" said Rob. "Perhaps I should be
able to shoot a duck if I saw one swimming about."

"Daresay you would, my lad," said the old sailor drily, "send the arrow
right through one; but what I say is, if the 'gators want a duck killed
they'd better kill it themselves."

"I don't understand you," said Rob.

"Understand, my lad? Why, suppose you shoot a duck, it will be on the
water, won't it?"

"Of course!"

"Then how are you going to get it off?"

"I forgot that," said Rob. "Impossible, of course."

"Come on, then, and don't let's waste time. We'll keep along here and
get some fruit, perhaps, and find birds at the same time."

Their journey through the forest was very short before they were
startled by a sudden rush and bound through the undergrowth. So sudden
was it that both stopped short listening, but the sound ceased in a few
moments.

"What's that?" whispered Rob.

"Deer, I thought at first, my lad; but it could not have been, because a
deer would have gone on racing through the forest, and one would have
heard the sounds dying away, not end suddenly like those did. You see,
there was a sudden rustle, and then it stopped, as if whatever it was
had been started up by our coming and then settled down again to hide
and watch us."

"Indian?" whispered Rob uneasily.

"Nay, more like some great cat. Strikes me it was one of the spotted
tigers, and a hardened arrow's not much good against one of those
beasts. I say, let's strike off in the other direction, and try if we
can find something there. Cats are awkward beasts to deal with even
when they're small. When it comes to one as strong as a horse, the best
way to fight 'em is to get out of their way."

Shaddy took a few steps forward so as to be able to peer up through a
green shaft among the trees to the sunshine and satisfy himself as to
their position, and then led off again.

"Can't be too particular, Mr Rob, sir," he said; "stitch in time saves
nine. Bit of observation now may save us hours of wa