eat waves tearing down the river from time to time, bearing
enormous masses of tangled tree and bush and sending out masses of foam,
sweeping over the clearing with an angry rush, which changed into a
fierce hiss as of thousands of serpents when the wave reached the edge
of the forest and ran an among the trees with a curious wail till it
died away in the distance.

When the waves struck the tree amongst whose branches the party were
ensconced, the puma growled at the heavy vibrations, and began to tear
at the bark with its claws. As one, however, worse than usual struck
the trunk, it gathered itself together, uttered a harsh growl, and was
about to spring off and swim, as if it feared being crushed down by the
branches of the washed-out tree; but a few words from Rob pacified it,
and it settled down once more, half hanging, as it were, across the
fork, where it was swinging its tail to and fro and gazing down at the
human companion it had chosen.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

A FOREST FEUD.

The little party sat there waiting patiently for the next event, their
eyes being mostly directed across the waste of water toward the
well-marked course of the stream, with its rush, swirl and eddy; and
before long there was another heaving up, as if a liquid bank descended
the river, spread across the opening, and directly after struck the tree
with a blow which made it quiver from root to summit.

"Will it hold fast, Naylor?" said Brazier, rather excitedly.

"Hope so, sir. I think it's safe, but it's growing in such soft soil,
all river mud, sand, and rotten wood, that the roots are loose, and it
feels as if it would give way at last. I daresay this was a bend of the
river once."

"But if it does give way, what are we to do?" cried Rob excitedly.

"Swim for the next tree, sir."

"But that has a great snake in it."

"Can't help that, Mr Rob. Rather have a snake for a mate than be
drowned. He's too much frightened to meddle with us. Look out, every
one, and try to keep clear of the boughs, so as not to be beaten under."

This was consequent upon the rushing up in succession of three great
waves, which struck the tree at intervals of a few seconds, the last
sending the water splashing up to where they sat, and at the same time
deluging the serpent in the next tree, making it begin to climb higher,
and exciting the puma so that Rob could hardly keep it from leaping off.

"The roots must be undermined," cried Brazier.