r must
have been, for he felt sure now that this had been his fate.

It was a nightmare-like sensation which paralysed him, so that, though
he heard Shaddy approaching and then calling to him, he could neither
move nor answer, only stand crouching there by a huge tree, with the bow
held before him and an arrow fitted ready to fly, fascinated by the
danger in front.

He could not see it, but there was no doubt of its presence, and that it
was hiding, crouched, ready to bound out, every movement suggesting that
it was some huge cat-like creature, in all probability a jaguar, nearly
as fierce and strong as a tiger. For at every rustle and crash through
the wood made by Shaddy there was a low muttering growl and a sound as
if the creature's legs were scratching and being gathered together for a
spring.

Rob felt this, and stood motionless, thinking that his only chance of
safety lay in gazing straight at the creature's hiding-place and
believing that as long as he remained motionless the animal would not
spring.

"Hi! where are you, my lad?" said Shaddy, from close at hand; but Rob's
lips uttered no sound. He felt a slight exhilaration at the proximity
of his companion, but he could not say, "Here!" and the next minute
Shaddy spoke again, depressing the lad's spirits now, for the voice came
from farther away. Again he shouted, "Hi! why don't you answer? Where
are you, lad?" but Rob heard the earth being torn up by the fierce
animal's claws, and now even heard its breathing, and his voice died
away again as a choking sensation attacked his throat.

And there he crouched, hearing the help for which he had called come
close to him, pass him, and go right away till Shaddy's anxious cries
died out in the solemn distance of the forest, leaving him alone to face
death in one of its most terrible forms.

He knew he could launch the arrow at the beast, and that at such close
quarters he ought to, and probably would hit it, but a frail reed arrow
was not likely to do more than spur the creature into fierce anger.

He could see it all in advance. A jaguar was only a huge cat, and he
would be like a rat in its claws, quite as helpless; and he shuddered
and felt faint for a few moments. But now that he was entirely alone,
far from help, and self-dependent, a change came over him. He knew that
he must fight for life; he felt as if he could defend himself; and, with
his nerve returning, his lips parted to utter a shout.