student of theology.

"Make your mind easy about him," replied the latter. "We shall bring
him to the hacienda to-morrow, if we find him still alive. Think only
of yourself, and those who might bewail your death. If you meet the
jaguars don't trouble yourself about them. Should your horse refuse to
pass them, speak to him. If the brutes come too near you, let them hear
you as well. The human voice was given us to procure respect, which it
will do from the most ferocious of animals. The whites don't know
this--because fighting the tiger is not their trade, as it is that of
the red man; and I can tell you an adventure of this kind that I once
had with a jaguar--Bah; he's gone!"

The last exclamatory phrases were drawn from the speaker, on perceiving
that the horseman, instead of staying to listen to his tale of
adventure, had put spurs to his horse, and suddenly ridden away.

In another instant he was beyond earshot, galloping over the moonlit
plain in the direction of the hacienda Las Palmas.

"Well!" cried Costal, as he stood gazing after him, "he's a frank brave
fellow, and I should be very sorry if any mischance were to happen to
him. I was not pleased about his interrupting us. It was a pity, to be
sure; but after all, had I been in his place I should have done just as
he did. Never mind," he added, after a pause, "all is not over--we
shall find another opportunity."

"Hum!" said Clara, "I think the sooner we get out of the neighbourhood
of these tigers the better for our skins. For my part, I've had enough
adventure for one day."

"Bah! still frightened about the tigers! For shame, Clara! Look at
this young man, who never saw a jaguar in his life; and heeds them no
more than so many field mice. Come along!"

"What have we to do now?"

"The spirit of the waters," replied Costal, "does not show herself in
the cascade alone. She appears also to those who invoke her with the
conch, amidst the yellow waves of the inundation. To-morrow we may try
again."

"What about the young fellow whom the officer has recommended to our
care?"

"We shall go to look after him in the morning. Meanwhile, we must have
some rest ourselves. Let us climb out of the ravine, and carry the
canoe up to the summit of the _Cerro de la Mesa_. There we shall sleep
tranquilly, without fear either of floods or jaguars."

"That's just the thing," said Clara, his black face brightening up at
the prospect of a good night'