around him the sun
must be very low, when Shaddy turned his head for a moment.

"Don't think you could find your way, do you, Mr Rob?"

"I'm sure I couldn't," was the reply.

"So am I, my lad."

"But you have it all right?"

"Sometimes, my lad; and sometimes I keep on losing it, and have to make
a bit of a cast about to pick it up again. We're going right, my lad,
so don't be down-hearted. Let's hope Mr Brazier is precious anxious
and hungry, waiting for us to come to him."

"I hope so, Shaddy."

"But you don't think so, my lad."

Rob shook his head.

"Heard your cat, sir?"

"No."

"More have I. Scared of me, I suppose. Rec'lects first meeting."

They went on again in silence, with the gloom deepening; but the forest
was a little more open, and all at once Shaddy stopped short, and
holding one hand behind him signed to Rob to come close up.

"Look!" he whispered: "just over my shoulder, lad. I'd say try your bow
and arrow, only we've got plenty of food in camp, and had better leave
it for next time."

"What is it, Shaddy? I can't see. Yes, I can. Why it's a deer.
Watching us too."

The graceful little creature was evidently startled at the sight of
human beings, and stood gazing ready to spring away at the slightest
motion on their part. The next instant there was a sudden movement just
before them, as a shadow seemed to dart out from their right; and as the
deer made a frantic bound it was struck down, for a puma had alighted
upon its back, and the two animals lay before them motionless, the
puma's teeth fast in the deer's neck, and the former animal so flattened
down that it looked as if it were one with the unfortunate creature it
had made its prey, and whose death appeared to have been almost
instantaneous.

"Why, it must be my puma!" cried Rob.

"That's so, my lad, for sartain," replied Shaddy. "Now, if we could get
part, say the hind-quarter of that deer, for our share, it would be
worth having. What do you say?"

Rob said nothing, and Shaddy approached; but a low, ominous growling
arose, and the great cat's tail writhed and twined about in the air.

"He'll be at me if I go any nearer," said Shaddy. "What do you say to
trying, Mr Rob, sir?"

"I don't think I would," said the lad; and he stepped forward, with the
result that the puma's tone changed to a peculiar whining, remonstrant
growl, as it shifted itself off the dead deer, but kept its teeth buried
in its neck, and bega