, when
I looked at his slight arm, and thought of the big jaws of the mias,
that it had not been bitten through. As may be supposed, after the
warning we had received, we kept up a blazing fire all night, and
instead of one watchman, we had two, always awake--either Roger Trew and
I, or the boatswain and Potto Jumbo. All night long our ears were
assailed with strange sounds--the croaking of frogs, the shrieks of
night-birds, and the terror-inspiring cries of beasts of prey. I went
to sleep with them still ringing in my ears, and when I awoke, the same
sounds were heard. I had been seated on the ground for some time,
carefully making up the fire, when a loud rustling among the dried
leaves and shrubs at a little distance reached my ears. I started up,
fowling-piece in hand, and telling Roger Trew to be on his guard,
advanced carefully towards the spot whence the sound had proceeded. I
was standing near the camp, behind Emily and Grace's hut, when I saw the
head of a huge creature with glaring eyes fixed on me. Still I did not
like to arouse my friends. I kept my hand, however, on the trigger,
ready to fire should it advance, for it seemed as if it was about to
make a spring towards me. There I stood gazing at the animal, with the
animal gazing at me, and wondering, probably, what sort of a creature I
was. I doubted whether it would be wise to fire; for though my gun was
loaded with ball, I might possibly miss it, when it was likely to become
more furious than if let alone. I cast one glance behind me at our
leafy village, towards which I slowly retreated. As soon as I got near
enough for Roger Trew to hear me, I asked him to accompany me to the
spot where I had been, that we might be sure what the creature was. He
was soon by my side.

"Why, a tiger, to be sure!" he exclaimed, levelling his musket.

He fired, and there was a loud rustling among the trees, as if some
large creature were bounding through them. I caught a glimpse of it,
and fired. In an instant the whole camp was alarmed. The girls looked
out of their bower with scared looks, wondering what had happened, while
my uncle and Dick Tarbox came out with their guns in their hands.

"I thought it would be so," said the former; "but you have done well to
keep the creature at a distance. However, he is perhaps not far off,
and we may before long have another shot at him."

We had some difficulty in persuading the girls to return to their bower
a