oon
built, in which to confine the animals: one of them was destined to be
turned into pork the following morning. The mules had already been sent
away, and True and the pigs were the only four-footed animals in the
camp.

Our whole party had been for some time asleep, when I was aroused by a
horrible squeaking, followed by a loud bark from True, who was sleeping
under my hammock. The squeaks and a few spasmodic grunts which
succeeded them soon ceased. The voices of my companions outside the hut
showed me that they were on the alert; and knowing that True would
attack our visitor, whether puma or jaguar, I tied him to one of the
posts of the hut before I went out--a proceeding of which he did not at
all approve.

"Cuguacuara! cuguacuara!" I heard the Indians exclaiming.

"A puma has carried off one of the hogs," said John, who appeared with
his gun ready for action.

"Where has it gone?" I asked.

"That is what we are going to ascertain," he answered.

We set out with Don Jose, Isoro, and several of the Indians, the latter
armed only with their spears. There was a bright moon, so we had no
great difficulty in seeing our way, though in that region of precipices
it was necessary to be cautious. Isoro and the Indians led the way,
tracing the puma by the blood which their keen sight discovered on the
ground. We had not gone far when they stopped and signified that the
beast was near. Turning a point of rock, we saw before us, in a hollow
on the side of the mountain--a shallow cavern overgrown with shrubs,
into which the moon shone brightly--not only one, but two huge pumas,
the nearest with its paws on the hog it had just stolen. We had formed
our camp close to their lair. The savage brutes, thus brought to bay,
and unable to escape, snarled fiercely at us. No animal is more hated
by the Indians than the puma, on account of the depredations it commits
on their flocks and herds. They had little chance, therefore, of being
allowed to escape. I expected, moreover, at any moment to see them
spring at us.

"Do you take the nearest," said Don Jose, calmly, to John; "I will take
the other. Reserve your fire, Harry, in case one of them should
spring."

He and John fired. The nearest puma gave a tremendous spring forward.
I had my weapon ready, and drew the trigger. The bullet struck him,
and, first rising in the air, he fell backwards, and lay without moving.
The Indians rushed forward, and, with shouts