on!

His situation, sufficiently unpleasant on account of the danger of the
rising inundation, soon became absolutely frightful from another and a
very different reason.

Some shining objects, which appeared to him among the leaves of the
tamarinds, and that looked like burning coals, just then caught his
glance; and a closer scrutiny convinced him that these could be no other
than the eyes of some fierce animals that had taken refuge upon the
trees--jaguars, no doubt: since he could think of no other creatures
that could have climbed up the smooth trunks of the tamarinds!

His terror was now complete. Beneath rushed the surging waters. He
knew not how soon they might mount higher and engulf him--for the flood
might still be far from its maximum height! On the other hand, he dare
not climb upwards. The fierce animals in the tree would be certain to
dispute his ascent, even should they feel disposed to leave him
unassailed where he was!

In this horrid state of uncertainty--dreading the double danger--he was
compelled to pass the remainder of the night.

We need not detail the unpleasant reflections to which his situation
gave rise: for a volume would scarce contain the thousand alternations
from hope to fear that passed through his spirit before the light of the
morning broke upon his longing eyes.

Though he had longed for morning to come, the daylight did not add much
to the joyfulness of his situation. The animals, whose glancing orbs
had kept him all night in a state of apprehension, were now plainly seen
among the branches of the trees. They _were_ jaguars--four of them--two
large ones, and two others of smaller size, or _cachorras_. This was
not all that Don Cornelio saw to alarm him. In addition to the fierce
quadrupeds, the tops of the tamarinds were occupied by other living
creatures of equally frightful aspect. These were reptiles: large
serpents of hideous appearance twined spirally round the branches, with
their heads projected outwards, and their forked tongues glistening
beyond their teeth!

The terrified student cast an inquiring glance over the waters, to see
if there was no means of escape from his perilous position. He saw only
the bubbling surface, here and there mottled with huge uprooted trees,
upon which appeared wolves and other wild animals half dead with
affright. High overhead, eagles, vultures, and other birds of prey
wheeled in circles through the air, uttering their pierci