t's dangerous."

"But you don't fancy that lizard thing, my lad; and I want you strong
to-morrow. Now, look here: I'll get close again, and risk it; and if,
just as I say `Now,' you'd speak to the beast quiet like, as you would
to a dog, it might take his attention, and so we'd get the hind part
clear off."

"Yes," said Rob, quietly. "Shall I walk to it?"

"No, I wouldn't do that, but go a little way off sidewise, just keeping
your distance, talking all the while, and he'd follow you with his
eyes."

Rob nodded, and turned off, as Shaddy crept close once more and
stretched out his hand.

"Now!" he said; and Rob began to call the beast, fervently hoping that
it would not come, but to his horror it did; and he could just dimly
make out its shape, looking misty and dim in the firelight, with its
eyes glowing and its tail writhing, as it slowly approached, while Rob
walked farther away from his companion still.

All at once the puma stopped short, swung itself round, and, to Rob's
horror, crouched, bounded back toward where the carcass lay, leaping
right to it, and burying its jaws in the deer's neck with a savage
snarl.

"Run, Shaddy," shouted Rob.

"It's all right, my lad," came from a little distance: "I did. I've got
our half, and he's got his. Speak to him gently, and leave him to his
supper. We won't be very long before we have ours."

"Got it?" cried Rob, eagerly, as he hurried after his companion.

"Yes, my lad--all right;" and a few minutes later pieces of the tender,
succulent flesh, quite free from marks of the puma's claws, were
frizzling over the clear embers and emitting an appetising odour, which
taught the boy how hungry he was; and as they were cooking, Shaddy
talked of how tame he had known pumas to be, and of how they seemed to
take to man.

"I wouldn't trust a tiger the length of his tail," he said, as they
raked hot coals nearer to the roasting meat; "but I should never feel
skeart of a lion, so long as I didn't get fighting him. Strikes me that
after a fashion you might get that chap kind of tame. Shouldn't wonder
if, when he's done, he comes and lies down here for a warm."

Rob thought of his former night's experience, when something came and
nestled near him; and the next minute he was doing the same as the
puma--partaking of the nourishing meat, every mouthful seeming to give
him fresh strength.

It was a rough, but enjoyable meal, nature making certain demands which
had to