e daybreak with
his gun in the forest, said he would rest till dinner was ready. The
chief Indian, Tono, meantime took his blow-pipe and bow, saying he would
go into the forest and shoot some more game for supper, our stock having
become somewhat scanty; while his companions lay down to sleep in the
canoe. John lay down on the grass, away from the fire, though near
enough for the smoke to keep the flies at a distance. We had the paca
scientifically trussed and spitted, and placed over the fire on two
forked sticks. Sometime! Arthur, sometimes I turned the spit. It was
my turn to attend to it, and Arthur was sitting near me, when I felt the
ground shake, as if some large object had pitched down on it at my side;
and what was my horror, on turning my head, to see Arthur, in the claws
of an enormous puma, being dragged over the ground. We had imprudently
left our guns in the montaria. At the same time John awoke, and quickly
sprang into the canoe. I felt for my knife--the only weapon I
possessed--when I found that I had left it on the other side of the
fire, where John had been lying. As I turned my head for an instant,
intending to seize it, I saw another puma stealthily approaching.
Arthur did not cry out, but lay with his face on the ground, the better
to avoid the stroke of the puma's paw. Horror kept me from moving. The
savage beast was dragging Arthur away. Despair seized me. His death
seemed inevitable. All passed in a moment. Then I saw John standing up
in the montaria, with his rifle pointed at the puma's head. My tongue
clove to my mouth. I could not shout out to awake the Indians. The
second puma was drawing near. I might be its victim. Just then John's
rifle echoed through the forest: the puma which had seized Arthur sprang
up in the air, and then down it fell, its claws only a few inches from
Arthur's body. I now rushed up to him, and dragged him out of the way
of its dying struggles, calling to John to look after the other puma.
The Indians had now started to their feet, uttering loud shrieks. The
puma stopped just as I fancied it was about to spring at me, and turning
round, bounded into the forest. They then, running up to where the puma
lay, quickly despatched it with their spears; while John and I lifted up
Arthur and carried him to the side of the fire. He was insensible, but
groaned heavily. His arm and shoulder were fearfully torn, while his
head had received a blow, though comp