suade our father to migrate to it, and build
a house where we might all live in happy seclusion from the world.

"You have forgotten that it would be somewhat difficult to obtain
supplies in such a sequestered home; and still more so to send the
produce of our industry to market," I observed. "It might do very well
for a summer retreat, but I suspect that we should grow very tired of it
were we to attempt to live here all the year round."

We had now reached the end of the valley, and were venturing beyond the
boundaries prescribed by our Indian friend, so I proposed turning back.

"Let us go on a little farther," said Gerald. "I caught a glimpse of an
animal through the trees, but we shall get a better sight of it
directly."

We went on, and in another minute saw, directly below us, two fine deer
feeding in a small glade. They did not mind us, but remained quietly
browsing. I signed to Gerald to aim at one while I tried to shoot the
other. My finger was on the trigger, when, as I looked to the left, the
head and shoulders of a huge jaguar appeared. So noiselessly did the
animal steal through the brushwood, that the deer were not startled;
while, intent on seizing its prey, the jaguar did not discover us. The
next moment it gave a tremendous spring, crashing through the boughs,
and pounced down on the nearest deer. Gerald at the same moment fired,
and killed the other. I waited till I could take good aim; and, to my
great satisfaction, shot the jaguar through the head.

Having put an end to the sufferings of the deer the jaguar had seized,
we lost no time in dragging them both out of the thicket, and hoisting
them up to the bough of a tree with some ever-serviceable sepos. We
were then on the point of hastening back to obtain the assistance of the
doctor and Candela to carry home our prizes, when we caught sight of
some objects moving in the distance. We soon made out that they were
human beings; but as they might be the banditti from whom we had before
so narrowly escaped, we agreed that, till we could ascertain who they
really were, it would be prudent to hide ourselves. After hunting
about, we found a rock on the side of the hill surrounded by shrubs,
which would afford us concealment; so we climbed up to it, and crouching
down, watched the strangers. They stopped for some time, as if
undecided what road to take--then moving on, they came directly towards
us; and before long we made out two men--one