s purpose, the tiger had taken to flight. Giving
utterance to a loud scream, the animal buried his sharp teeth in the
carcass, tore from it a large mouthful, and then making a desperate
bound passed from the floating body to the bank. In another moment he
had rejoined his mate with her young ones, and all were soon beyond the
range of the hunter's carbine. The two terrible creatures appeared to
hesitate as to whether they should return to the attack, or retreat.
Then giving a simultaneous scream, both stretched off at full gallop
across the plain, followed by their _cachorros_.

The disappointed hunter looked after them, giving utterance to a fierce
exclamation expressive of his disappointment. Then seating himself in
the stern of the canoe, he turned its head down stream, and put forth
all his strength to regain the point from which they had set out.

CHAPTER NINE.

THE CASCADE.

The canoe carrying the two men continued slowly to descend the course of
the river--the negro felicitating himself on his escape from the claws
of the jaguars; while the thoughts of the Indian were dwelling with
regret upon his want of success.

Clara, however, did not enjoy an unalloyed satisfaction. The jaguars
had fled, it was true, but in what direction? It was evident they had
gone down stream, and might be encountered below.

This thought troubling Clara, he inquired of his companion if there was
any probability of their again falling in with this dangerous enemy.

"Probable enough," responded Costal, "and more than probable. If we
descend below the cascade, we shall be almost certain of seeing the
jaguars there. The carcass of a fine young colt is not to be met with
every day; and these brutes can reason like a man. They know well
though that the current will carry the floating body over the fall, and
that, below, it will be rendered up to them again. I do not say it will
then be whole; for I have seen the trunks of great trees broken into
fragments from being carried over that very cascade."

"Then you really think the jaguars may be waiting below?"

"No doubt but they will be there. If I don't mistake, you shall hear
their roar before ten minutes have passed, and it will come from the
bottom of the cascade, just where our business is now taking us."

"But they may feel inclined to take revenue on us for having driven them
from the carcass?"

"And if they should, what care I? Not a straw. _Vamos_! friend Cl