es, and Aztecs. Have
these Spaniards not been more ferocious than even the tigers
themselves?"

"I should not fear _them_, at any rate," interposed Clara.

"Good! I am glad you talk that way, comrade. To-morrow let us give
warning to our master, Don Mariano de Silva. He must find another
tigrero; and we shall go and join the insurgents in the west."

The Indian had scarce finished his speech, when another howl came from
the jaguars, as if to put the patience of the tiger-hunter to the test.
It was even more spitefully prolonged, coming in the direction in which
the first had been heard--that is, from a point upon the river a little
above where the two men were seated.

On hearing it, thus uttered as a signal of defiance, the eyes of the
tigrero began to sparkle with an irresistible desire for the chase.

"By the souls of the Caciques of Tehuantepec!" exclaimed he, "this is
too much for human patience. I shall teach those two braggarts not to
talk so loud of their affairs. Now, Clara!" continued he, springing to
his feet, "you shall have the opportunity of becoming acquainted with a
jaguar at closer quarters than you have hitherto been."

"_Carrambo_!" exclaimed the black, "why should I go near them? I have
no weapon, and would be of no use to you?"

"Hear me, Clara!" said the Indian, without replying to the speech of his
comrade. "The one that howled last is the male. He was calling to the
female, his mate. He is a good distance from here, up stream. We must
go up to him; and as there's not a stream on all the estate, where I
haven't either a canoe or _periagua_, for the purposes of my calling--"

"You have one here, then?" interrupted Clara.

"Certainly I have. We can go up the river; and in the canoe you will
not be in the slightest danger. I have my own notions as to how we may
best approach this noisy brute."

"But the jaguars can swim like seals, I have heard?"

"I don't deny it. Never mind that; come on!"

Without deigning further speech, the tigrero started forward; and going
cautiously, approached that part of the bank where his canoe was moored.

Clara seeing that it would be perhaps less dangerous to accompany him
than remain where he was alone, reluctantly followed.

In a few minutes they arrived at the place where the canoe was fastened
to the bank; a rude craft, just large enough to carry two men. A paddle
lay at the bottom; along with a piece of matting of plaited palm-leaf,