e tiger."

"The young man reasons well," rejoined Baraja, reassured by the
observation of Tiburcio.

"Twenty horses for one tiger--yes," replied Benito; "but suppose the
horses don't choose to remain here. Supposing, what is likely enough to
happen, we have an _estampeda_--the horses will be off. Now the jaguar
knows very well he cannot overcome a horse unless he does so in the
first bound or two. I will not follow the horses then, but will stay by
the water, and of course by us as well. Besides, the jaguars that hunt
by these springs are likely enough to have tasted human flesh before
now; and if so, they will not, as the young man affirms, prefer the
flesh of a horse."

"Very consoling, that," interrupted Cuchillo.

Benito appeared to be a man fond of the most frightful suggestions, for
not contented with what he had already said, he continued--

"If there be but one jaguar, then he will be satisfied with one of us,
but in case he should chance to be accompanied by his female, then--"

"Then what, by all the devils?" demanded Cuchillo.

"Why, then--but I don't wish to frighten you."

"May thunder strike you! Speak out," cried Baraja, suffering at the
suspense.

"Why, in that case," coolly added Benito, "the tiger would undoubtedly
show his gallantry to his female by killing a pair of us."

"Carramba!" fervently exclaimed Baraja. "I pray the Lord that this
tiger may be a bachelor," and as he said this he flung a fresh armful of
fagots on the fire.

"Gently, amigo! gently," interrupted the ex-herdsman, lifting off some
of the sticks again. "We have yet at least six hours of night, and
these fagots will scarce serve to keep up the light for one. Gently, I
say! We have still three chances of safety: the first that the jaguar
may not be thirsty; the second, that he may content himself with one of
our horses; and the third, that he may, as you have wished it, be a
_bachelor_ tiger."

There was no response, and another interval of silence succeeded.
During this it was some consolation to the travellers to see the moon,
which now, rising above the horizon, lit up the plains with her white
beams, and flung her silvery effulgence over the trees. From the
direction of the woods came the mournful notes of the great horned owl,
and the sound of flapping wings, caused by the vampire bat, as it glided
through the aisles of the forest. No other sounds appeared to indicate
the presence of living thing except