trees and taking up its position
in the bright sunshine, with its coat glistening and the brown spots on
its tawny hide shining with almost metallic lustre.

And there it stood, with its ears lowered and eyes blazing, looking from
one to another of the occupants of the boat, and from them to Shaddy,
who leaped ashore knife in hand, while the brute's tail writhed and
twisted as if it were a serpent.

"Hadn't one of you better shoot?" said Shaddy calmly. "He's, too much
for me with only a knife."

Just then the Indian who had been knocked down began to crawl cautiously
toward the trees.

The movement was enough for the jaguar. It was the cat again that has
stricken down a mouse standing perfectly careless till the unfortunate
little animal begins to stir. The fierce beast turned, gathered itself
together, and was about to launch itself upon the boatman in one
tremendous bound, when simultaneously there was a sharp click from
Brazier's gun, but with no further result, for he had drawn the trigger
of his rifled barrel in which there was no cartridge, and a sharp stab
on the loins as Shaddy hurled his knife with unerring aim at the savage
beast.

The jaguar turned with a fierce snarl and struck the knife from where it
stuck in its back. Then, seeing in Shaddy its assailant, it crouched
again to bound upon the guide.

Once again its aim was spoiled; for with fingers trembling Rob had
cocked his piece and taken aim, being about to fire when the knife was
thrown; but the rapid movement of the animal checked him till it
crouched and he saw it about to spring upon Shaddy.

This time he pressed the stock firmly to his shoulder, and, taking aim
at the jaguar's head, fired twice, the first charge taking effect full
in the creature's back, and, as it sprang up, the second in its flank.

With a fierce howl it twisted itself round and bit at the side, tearing
out the glossy fur in its rage and pain. Then turning sharply it looked
round for its assailant, when Joe's piece rang out, the bad powder with
which it was heavily loaded making a cloud of dense smoke which
prevented Rob from seeing for a few moments, and when it rose the jaguar
had gone.

They all busied themselves reloading now, but there was no animal to
shoot, and Shaddy picked up his knife, wiping its point carefully on his
trousers as he straightened himself.

"Which way did it go?" cried Brazier.

"Yonder, sir, through the trees. But it's of no use for