his weapon when
the silence told that the conflict had been decided in favor of the
weaker party.

"Kill the beast. There are too many of her kind already, and I shall be
doing a favor to those who come after us by reducing the number."

"Don't shoot; she has proved her right to live, if the theory of the
survival of the fittest be correct, and after such a battle it would be
cowardly to kill her."

"If, on the morrow, you should find yourself suddenly seized by her,
there would not be so much pity in your heart," Poyor replied, and
before Neal could make any reply the animal had vanished in the thicket.

"There is no longer any question of what should be done," the Indian
said regretfully, after a pause, as he lowered his weapon. "There is a
fine skin for those who care to save it."

"It can lay there for all I care," Teddy replied with a laugh. "Fur in
this kind of weather isn't pleasant even to think of. Perhaps in the
morning Cummings will fancy it worth his while to carry the hide away."

"The ants will have devoured it before the sun rises, and since it has
no value for you it is well to go to sleep. One of the white men can
call you when it is time to stand your share of the watch."

"Is guard to be kept all night?"

"It would be unsafe for all to sleep. If the jaguars had not met the
serpent what would have been the result to those whose eyes were closed
in slumber?"

"There is no necessity of saying anything more," Neal replied with a
laugh. "We will be ready when our turn comes."

Then, as soon as they could compose themselves sufficiently, the boys
surrendered to the demand of slumber, and Cummings must have stood their
watch himself, since they were not awakened until another day had come.

Breakfast was already cooked. On a number of gigantic leaves the Indian
had spread such food as he could procure: Mangoes without stint; a
roasted bird shaped not unlike a goose, and several small, white cones
which tasted like radishes.

Except for such articles as bread or vegetables, it was a meal which
would have tempted an epicure and to it all hands did full justice.

When their hunger had been satisfied, Cummings said as he shouldered one
of the two remaining guns and took up a greater portion of the
cartridges:

"It is time we were moving. We can travel reasonably slow, in order that
no one may become exhausted; but not an hour must be lost. The way
before us is long, even after we reach the sea-s