t of a cheer, seized the jaguar's tail. His
master grasped its ears, and in another moment it lay in the bottom of
the canoe.

"Now, help to lay the poor fellow beside it," said Lawrence.

"O massa!--he not dead, eh?" groaned the negro, as he assisted in the
work.

"No; nor likely to die yet a while," replied Lawrence, with much
satisfaction, as he examined and bound up the scalp-wound. "It is not
deep; he'll soon come round; but we must get him home without delay.
Out with your paddle, Quashy, and use it well. I'll take the bow."

The canoe, which, during these proceedings, had been floating slowly
down stream, was now turned in the right direction, and in a short time
was out upon the larger river.

Here, however, they had to labour with energy against the stream, and it
was far on in the afternoon before they came in sight of the Indian's
hut. By that time Spotted Tiger had partially recovered, as Lawrence
observed during a pause made for rest. On reaching an eddy, which
carried the canoe in the right direction, they rested again. The
cessation of paddling appeared to rouse the wounded man, for he sat up,
and, with a half-dazed look, stared at the head of the dead jaguar, on
the haunch of which his elbow leaned. Then he cast an inquiring look at
Lawrence, who replied to him with a nod and a smile, and went on to
indicate, by means of pantomime, what had occurred.

He pointed to the animal's claws, and to Tiger's head; then to the
bloody spear which lay at his side, and to the jaguar's blood-stained
throat, after which he pointed to his own breast and nodded again.

The Indian evidently understood him, for an expression of gratitude
overspread his countenance as he extended his right hand--English
fashion--for a shake. Our hero was not slow to grasp it, and the two
exchanged a squeeze which told of lasting friendship and good-will.

A few minutes later, and the canoe was run upon the bank in front of the
hut, where all the children were assembled to receive them.

It did not seem as if any of the family were deeply affected by the
shaky appearance of the father as he stepped on shore, but the younger
members evinced feelings of intense delight when the jaguar was lifted
out; and two of them, seizing the tail as a tow-rope, passed it over
their shoulders, and dragged the carcass up to the hut to show it to
their mother.

O mothers! loving repositories of childhood's joys and woes, ye are
unquestiona