ung in profusion wild-vines, convolvuli of many
colours, and numerous other parasites. The path was so narrow, that
although we had previously contrived to ride two abreast, we were now
obliged to allow one to go before the other. Rita, with whom I had been
riding, whipping on her pony, dashed forward, exclaiming,--"I am in my
native land; it is my duty to show you the way, Maurice."

Several trees had fallen over the path, which was exceedingly rough.
Her little mustang leaped them, however, with wonderful activity, and
mine followed. She had got some distance ahead, when suddenly I heard
her utter a cry; her pony stopped short; I saw her clasp her hands as if
paralysed with fear. She had cause for alarm. Not five paces off,
crawling along the top of a bank, was a huge puma, apparently about to
spring upon her. In another instant the monster might have seized her
in its paws and carried her into the jungle, where none of us could have
followed. I shouted to try and frighten the brute, and endeavoured in
the meantime to unsling my rifle; but my pony, alarmed, endeavoured to
turn round, and I was compelled to handle my rein to make him go
forward: indeed, it would have been difficult to fire without a fearful
risk of injuring my cousin. While I was endeavouring to make my horse
move forward, and at the same time to unsling my rifle, expecting every
moment to see the puma make its fatal spring, I heard a shot, and the
animal, leaping into the air, fell over dead close to the pony's feet.
On looking round, I saw that it was a stranger on horseback who had
fired the shot.

I made my way up to Rita's side, for I thought she would have fallen,
but she quickly recovered herself.

"I was in a dreadful fright, Maurice," she said; "but you saved me from
the creature's claws by your timely shot."

"No, it was that person out there," I said, pointing to the stranger,
who now, leaping over the fallen trunks, joined us close to where the
puma lay.

He bowed politely to Rita, and I now saw by his uniform that he was a
military officer. Of course, I thanked him, as did my cousin. On the
rest of the party coming up, they joined us in expressing our gratitude.

He laughed as he answered, "I should have been glad to have killed the
beast at all events, so pray don't thank me. Let me ask where you are
going. I don't think it prudent for ladies to be riding through the
country without a large escort."

On hearing that