ward too.

"Trust me, sir. Perhaps if I can get first dig at him before he claws
me, he may sheer off. Ah, mind, sir! you'll have me off. Oh! it's you,
is it?"

The first was a fierce shout of warning, but the second was in a tone of
satisfaction.

"I thought it was you come down on my back," growled Shaddy; "but this
is as it should be. You never know who's going to help you at a pinch."

For without warning the puma had silently made one bound from its perch,
and alighted upon the flattish surface presented by the old sailor's
back. Then planting itself with outstretched paws firmly on his
shoulders, and lowering its head, it opened its jaws and uttered a
savage yell, which was answered from the golden-spangled water where the
new-comer was swimming.

"It is a tiger, and no mistake," said Shaddy in a low voice; "and we'd
better let our lion do the fighting, so long as they don't claw me.
Mind, old fellow! That's right. I've got fast hold now."

As he was speaking he took a firm grip of a bough by his side, and with
breathless suspense Rob and Brazier waited for the next phase in the
exciting episode, for they were in momentary expectation of the jaguar,
if such it was, reaching the tree, climbing up, and a fierce battle
between the two savage creatures ensuing, with a result fatal to their
companion, unless in the darkness, while they were engaged in a deadly
struggle, he could contrive to direct a fatal blow at the bigger and
fiercer beast.

They could now dimly make out its shape as it swam to and fro,
hesitating about coming up; for the puma, generally so quiet, gentle and
docile, had now suddenly become a furious snarling and hissing creature,
with its ears flat to its head and paw raised ready to strike.

"I don't know what's going to happen next," said Shaddy in a low voice,
"for this is something new to me. I did think I'd gone through pretty
well everything; but being made into a platform for a lion and a tiger
to fight out a battle's quite fresh. Suppose you gentlemen get your
knives out over my head, so as to try and guard it a bit. Never mind
the lion; he won't touch you while that thing's in front of him. He
can't think of anything else. I can't do anything but hold on. That's
right, messmate," he cried, as the puma made a stroke downward with one
paw. "You'll do the business better than I shall."

"It will be light soon," whispered Brazier, as he leaned forward as far
as he could,