.

This delighted Donalblane, who was impatient to try what he could do as
a sportsman, and, in company with Mr. Sutherland and a native guide, he
set out joyously. There was no lack of game to be feared. From the
harmless iguana or more attractive _corrosou_ (wild turkey) up to the
fierce wild boar or terrible panther or jaguar, the forest simply
swarmed with fair subjects for his bullets. It was only a question of
picking and choosing. Following their guide he and Mr. Sutherland had
been tramping for several hours, and securing a creditable "bag," when,
feeling weary, they threw themselves down to rest under a big tree, and
quite naturally fell sound asleep. An hour slipped by, and Donalblane,
from a troubled dream, awoke to find glaring down upon him from an
upper branch the most appalling eyes he had ever beheld. Their baleful
gleam seemed to freeze his blood. He was for the moment paralysed. He
could not turn aside to glance at his companions, who lay like logs a
few feet away, and his tongue refused to act. He could just discern
through the deep shade a great dark body crouched behind the eyes, and
his instinct told him that the most dreaded denizen of the forest--the
black panther--was preparing to spring upon him!

[Illustration: "GLARING DOWN UPON HIM ... THE MOST APPALLING EYES HE
HAD EVER BEHELD."]

CHAPTER IX.

IN PERILOUS PLIGHT.

Donalblane's paralysing panic was only for the moment. The power of
action presently returned to him, and, grasping his gun, he aimed at
the diabolical eyes, while he shouted to his companions: "Up wi'
ye!--up wi' ye! We're in danger!"

So heavy was their slumber, however, that neither of them stirred at
his call; but when the report of the gun rang out, they both bounded to
their feet just in time to see a great dark body fly through the air
with a fearful scream, and light upon poor Donalblane, who fell back
beneath it! They realised at once what had happened, and Mr.
Sutherland, seizing his musket, and the Indian his spear, sprang to the
boy's assistance.

So completely did the panther cover him that Mr. Sutherland dared not
fire, lest the bullet should penetrate both bodies; but he sought a
chance to use the butt of his musket on the brute's head, while the
Indian made play with his spear, stabbing it into the creature's side.
Meantime Donalblane, into whose shoulder the terrible teeth had sunk
while the merciless claws were tearing his clothes to ri