of triumph, soon knocked
out any sparks of life which remained in the animals. They then,
fastening some sipos round the bodies, dragged them and the hog to the
camp.

I had just time to measure one of them, before they were skinned and cut
up. It had a body four feet in length; and a tail two and a half feet
long, black at the tip, but without the characteristic tuft of the lion.
Its limbs were very thick and muscular, to enable it to climb trees and
spring a great distance. Its coat was of a light tawny tint, and of a
greyish-white below.

The Indians, delighted with their prize, sat up the rest of the night
cooking and eating the flesh, and telling anecdotes about the creatures.
The puma (_Leopardus concolor_) will seldom face a man when encountered
boldly. It attacks his flocks, however; and hunts deer, vicunas,
llamas, and, indeed, all animals it meets with except its rival, the
jaguar. It takes post on the branch of a tree, pressing itself so
closely along it as scarcely to be distinguished; and from thence
springs down on a passing deer or other animal, seizing it by the head,
which it draws back till the neck is broken. I shall have by-and-by to
recount another adventure with pumas of a far more terrific character;
so will say no more about them at present, except that we found the
flesh very white, and much like veal.

We spent three days at the encampment. At length one evening Don Jose
declared his intention of setting forth himself with Isoro. I begged
that I might accompany him, and John also seemed anxious to go.

"No, Senor John," said our friend; "it is your duty to remain and take
care of your young sister. But I will consent to take Harry with me,
and we will set forth to-morrow morning by daybreak. John, Arthur, and
your servants will be sufficient to guard the camp; but do not move out
beyond the point which intervenes between this and the pass, lest you
may be perceived by any enemy travelling on it. And let me advise you
also to be cautious how you receive any stranger who may perchance find
his way here. At night be careful to keep a fire burning, and to set a
watch. If you strictly follow my injunctions, I shall have no fear. I
need not remind you of your young sister, whom it is your duty to watch
over; and the consequences to her, as indeed to us all, would be sad
through any carelessness."

John, though evidently disappointed, promised to follow our friend's
advice. Next m