might make free with it to
any extent.

Then, suddenly recollecting how Shaddy was hunting for him and their
object, he sprang to his feet, and placing his hands to his mouth, sent
forth as loud a shout as he could give.

As he sprang up the puma also leaped to its feet, watching him in a
startled way.

Rob shouted again, and as a reply came from not far distant a low growl
arose from the animal by his side.

But he shouted again, and an answer came from much nearer, when with one
bound the animal sprang out of sight amongst the trees, and though Rob
called to it again and again in the intervals of answering Shaddy's
cries, there was not a sound to suggest the creature's presence.

"It's afraid of Shaddy," Rob concluded, and feeling bound to continue
his signals, he kept on till his companion joined him.

"Why, my lad," cried the latter, "I thought I'd lost you too," and as
soon as Rob had explained the reason for his silence, "Enough to make
you, lad. But that's right enough. He's took a fancy to you. Only
hope he won't show fight at me, because if he does I shall have to hit
hard for the sake of Shadrach Naylor; but if he's for giving the
friendly hand, why so am I. But come along; we mustn't be belated here.
I've found fresh signs of Mr Brazier while I was hunting you."

"You have?" cried Rob joyfully.

"Yes, my lad, not much; but I came upon a spot where he had been
breaking down green-stuff."

"Since he--met with that accident?" said Rob hesitatingly.

"Ah, that's what I can't say, Mr Rob, sir. Let's get to it, and try
and follow up his trail. No; we can't do it to-day. We must get back
to the hut to-night, and all we can do is to take the spot I came to on
the way. We shall only get there before dark as it is."

"Oh, but we can't leave him alone in the forest--perhaps wounded and
unable to find his way out."

"But we must, my lad," said the guide firmly. "We can do him no more
good by sleeping here than by sleeping there under cover."

"Who can think of sleeping, Shaddy, at a time like this?"

"Natur' says we must sleep, Mr Rob, and eat too, or we shall soon break
down. Come along, my lad; there's always the hope that we may find him
back at camp after all."

"But he must be wanting our help, Shaddy," said Rob sadly.

"Yes, my lad, and if he can, camp's the place where he'll go to look for
it, isn't it?"

"Yes, of course."

"Then we ought to be there to-night in case he comes to it