ife. Bad
luck to the wild baists as comes to close quarters wid me, anyhow."

He displayed an enormous and glittering knife as he spoke, with which he
made two or three savage cuts and thrusts at imaginary tigers before
returning it to its sheath.

Cautioning Bunco to keep a good look-out for them on the other side of
the neck of land, the hunters entered the forest. For several hours
they trudged through bush and brake, over hill and dale, in jungle and
morass, meadow and ravine, without seeing anything worth powder and
shot, although they _heard_ the cries of many wild creatures.

"Och! there's wan at long last," whispered Larry, on coming to the edge
of a precipice that overlooked a gorge or hollow, at the bottom of which
a tiger was seen tearing to pieces the carcase of a poor goat that it
had captured. It was a long shot, but Larry was impatient. He raised
his gun, fired, and missed. Will Osten fired immediately and wounded
the brute, which limped away, howling, and escaped. The carcass of the
goat, however, remained, so the hunters cut off the best parts of the
flesh for supper, and then hastened to rejoin the canoe, for the shades
of night were beginning to fall. For an hour longer they walked, and
then suddenly they both stopped and looked at each other.

"I do belaive we've gone an' lost ourselves again," said Larry.

"I am afraid you are right," replied Will, with a half smile; "come, try
to climb to the top of yonder tree on the eminence; perhaps you may be
able to see from it how the land lies."

Larry went off at once, but on coming down said it was so dark that he
could see nothing but dense forest everywhere. There was nothing for it
now but to encamp in the woods. Selecting, therefore, a large spreading
tree, Larry kindled a fire under it, and his companion in trouble
discharged several shots in succession to let Bunco know their position
if he should be within hearing.

Neither Will nor Larry took troubles of this kind much to heart. As
soon as a roaring fire was blazing, with the sparks flying in clouds
into the trees overhead, and the savoury smell of roasting goat's flesh
perfuming the air, they threw care to the dogs and gave themselves up to
the enjoyment of the hour, feeling assured that Bunco would never desert
them, and that all should be well on the morrow. After supper they
ascended the tree, for the howling of wild beasts increased as the night
advanced, warning them that it