ing hold on you.
Never fear your getting close enough. If I'm not mistaken, we shall
have all four of them within arm's length in less than a quarter of an
hour."

"All four!" exclaimed the negro, with a start that caused the canoe to
oscillate as if it would upset.

"Beyond doubt," rejoined Costal, making an effort to counterbalance the
shock which the frail bark had received. "It is the only plan by which
we can bring the chase to a speedy termination; and when one is pressed
for time, one must do his best. I was going to tell you, when you
interrupted me, that there are two jaguars--one on the right bank, the
other on the left--the male and female, beyond doubt. Now by their
cries I can tell that these animals are desirous of rejoining one
another; and if we place ourselves between the two, it is evident they
will both come upon us at once. What say you? I defy you to prove the
contrary?"

Clara made no reply to the challenge. His profound belief in the
infallibility of his companion's perceptions kept him silent.

"Look out now, Clara!" continued the hunter, "we are going to double
that bend in the river where the bushes hide the plain from our view.
Your face will be turned the right way. Tell me, then, what you see."

From his position in the canoe, Costal, who plied the paddle, was seated
with his back to the open ground towards which they were advancing; and
he could only see in front by turning his head, which from time to time
he had been doing. But he needed not to look around very often. The
countenance of the negro, who was face to face with him, resembled a
faithful mirror, in which he could read whatever might be passing behind
him.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

A GRAND SPECTACLE.

Hitherto the features of Clara had expressed nothing more than a kind of
vague fear; but at the moment when the canoe rounded the last turn in
the river, a sudden terror became depicted upon them. The hunter thus
warned quickly faced round. An immense plain came before his eye, that
seemed to stretch to the verge of the horizon. Through this ran the
river, its waters almost on a level with the banks--which were covered
with a grassy sward, and without a single tree. At some distance from
the curve the stream almost doubled back on itself--forming a verdant
delta, around the apex of which ran the road that led to the hacienda
Las Palmas.

The rays of the setting sun were flooding the plain with a transparent
go