For the moment he thought it was for help, but it was repeated, and
realising that it was an animal's, he started forward in the direction
of the sound, though only to halt the moment after in alarm and look
back. At the end of a few seconds he set it down to fancy and went on
again, but only to stop once more, for there was a rustling sound behind
him; and he awoke at once to the fact that the noise could only have
been made by some wild beast stealing softly after him, stalking him, in
fact, and preparing to make a spring and bring him down.

Rob felt the perspiration ooze out of every pore as he stood looking
back in the direction of the sound, which ceased as soon as he halted.
He would have given anything to have held a gun in his hands and been
able to discharge it amongst the low growth where the animal was hidden,
but he was as good as helpless with only the bow and an arrow or two;
and he stood waiting till he started, for he heard Shaddy's cry again,
and in a fit of desperation he shouted aloud in answer, and sprang
forward to try and reach his side.

But as he made his way onward there again was the soft stealing along of
his pursuer, whatever it was, for though he tried hard to pierce the low
growth, the gloom was so deep that he never once obtained a glimpse of
the animal.

Again Shaddy shouted, and he answered, the cry sounding not a hundred
yards away; and in the hope that their voices might have the power of
scaring the enemy, he shouted again, and was answered loudly and far
nearer, making him give a rush forward in his desperation, and following
it up with a gasp of agony, for there was a fierce roar through the
forest on his left.

It seemed as if the animal, in dread of losing him by his forming a
junction with his friend, had bounded on to get between them and crouch
ready to spring upon him; but Rob could not hold back now, and pressed
forward.

"Shaddy," he shouted--"Shaddy, there is some wild beast close here."

"Wait a bit, my lad," was shouted back; and the crushing and rustling of
boughs told of Shaddy's coming, while Rob faced round now, staring
wildly at a dark part among the trees where he thought he saw the
undergrowth move but not daring to stir, from the feeling that if he did
turn his back the beast would spring upon him and bring him down.

Thought after thought flashed like lightning through his brain, and in
imagination he saw himself seized and bleeding, just as Mr Brazie