snapped like a piece of thread, but
Lawrence threw himself in front of the girl, caught the animal by the
throat, and held him with both hands, as if in a vice. Instantly every
claw of the four paws was buried in the flesh of his legs and arms, and
he would certainly have been fearfully rent by his powerful antagonist
if Tiger had not, with lightning stroke, buried his long keen knife in
the animal's heart.

So swiftly and effectually was the deed done, that the jaguar next
moment hung limp and dead in our hero's grasp. Dropping it on the
ground, he turned up his sleeves to examine the wounds.

"Deep enough, but not lacerated, thank God," he said. "They won't give
me much trouble. Come, Quash, into the bush, and help me to look at the
other scratches and dress them. I must appoint you assistant-surgeon
for the occasion!"

Manuela murmured her thanks in a deep, tremulous voice that said much
for her power of gratitude, and, timidly taking the youth's hand as he
passed, humbly touched it with her lips.

The wounds were soon dressed, and, thanks to Tiger's promptitude, they
did not afterwards give much trouble.

That night, as they were about to retire to their several hammocks,
Lawrence went up to the Indian girl, and, for the first time, held out
his hand for a shake in the white man's fashion.

"I'm glad, Manuela," he said, as she frankly grasped it, "that it has
pleased God to make me the instrument of--of--protecting you."

"Twice," replied the girl quickly, and then paused, with a confused
look,--"how you say, twice--or two times?"

"Say which you like," replied Lawrence, with a hearty laugh; "the words
will sound equally well from _your_ lips, but `twice' is the right way."

"Well, twice you have save me. I am gratitude. My father will be
gratitude."

"Tell me, Manuela," returned Lawrence, earnestly, "is your father a
chief?"

"Yes,--a great chief."

There was a peculiar smile on the girl's lips as she said this that
disconcerted him. We have said that he was naturally shy. He had
intended to follow up his first question by asking if her father was
descended from the Incas, but the peculiar smile checked him. He bade
her good-night, and turned abruptly away.

While he was sitting by the fire meditating on this matter, he heard a
step in the bushes. Tiger, who had already retired to his hammock, also
heard it, and bounded to his feet. Next instant Pedro glided into the
circle of light an