t the
same time under view the whole circumference of the circle. Both had
placed their knives in readiness, in case that, by any chance, they
should either miss their aim, or--what would be almost as unlucky--only
wound the enemy; for they well knew that a wounded jaguar is a more
dangerous adversary than one that escapes altogether from the touch of
the bullet.

Fortunately the moon had again appeared; but being yet low down in the
sky, her beams were not thrown into the bottom of the valley--and
therefore the trappers themselves were still under the shadow. This
circumstance was in their favour.

Notwithstanding the perilous position in which they had thus voluntarily
placed themselves, neither made the slightest movement; and the long
barrels of their rifles stood forth in front of them, as motionless as
bronze cannon set in battery.

They well knew, in case either should miss with their firearms, that a
hand-to-hand struggle with the ferocious tigers would be the result; a
combat of knives and claws--a combat to the death. Yes; at the bottom
of that little valley it would be necessary for them to conquer or die.
They knew this without exhibiting the slightest show of fear.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

UNEXPECTED RECOGNITIONS.

It was not long before the spectators, who awaited this terrible
conflict, perceived the jaguars advancing toward the crest of the ridge.
All at once, however, the two made an abrupt pause, uttering a loud
roar that seemed to express disappointment. They had just scented the
presence of the two men within the cistern--from which the animals were
now only a few paces distant.

For a moment both male and female stood together, stretching their
bodies out to their full length, and lashing their flanks with their
long sinewy tails. Then, uttering another prolonged roar, they bounded
simultaneously forward, passing, at a single leap, over a space of full
twenty feet. A second spring brought them upon the crest of the ridge,
upon which they had scarce rested an instant, before the quick sharp
crack of a rifle, followed by a yell of agony, told that one of them had
fallen to the hunter's bullet.

The second jaguar appeared for the moment to have escaped, but not to
have retreated. He was seen to launch himself into the bottom of the
little valley; and then was heard a confusion of noises--human voices
mingling with the howls of the fierce brute, and the sound of a
struggle, as if jagua