sappeared behind the mountains, and suddenly left me in darkness. I
turned to retrace my steps with somewhat uncomfortable feelings, lest a
jaguar or puma might be following me. I do not mind mentioning these
creatures so often, for I defy any one to wander alone through the South
American forests without thinking of their possible vicinity, and the
numberless stories he may have heard from the natives of the way in
which people have been destroyed by these savage beasts. The puma, it
is true, is not so fierce as the jaguar; but, at the same time, it is
very dangerous, as it will, cat-like, follow a person, and spring upon
him if it can catch him unawares. It will not, in most instances,
attack him if he faces it boldly, but will then slink off; whereas the
jaguar will attack a man unless he has the nerve to fix his eye on the
brute, when it generally hesitates to spring forward; but it will do so
the instant he turns,--and should he attempt to fly, will bound after
him and bring him to the ground.

I had not gone many paces--intending to keep along the bank of the
stream, that I might the more easily find my way--when the moon rose
round and full, shedding her silvery light over the scene,--on the
quivering leaves, and the waters of the stream, rippled by a gentle
breeze. I kept my eyes round me on every side, with my lingers on the
trigger of my gun, occasionally giving a glance over my shoulder to
ascertain whether any animal was following me, when I caught sight of a
dark figure kneeling close to the edge of the water with a long rod in
his hand. I saw that he was fishing, though it did seem an odd time for
a person to be so employed. For a moment I thought it must be Chumbo;
but then I recollected the distance I was from the camp, and that my
father would not have allowed him to quit it for such a purpose, as we
had as much food as we required. I had no cause to be afraid of the
man, whoever he might be; but I advanced cautiously, so as not to alarm
him. As I got nearer the light of the moon fell on his face, and I
discovered to my great satisfaction that he was no other than Padre
Pacheco's black servant, Candela; so I immediately surmised that his
master could not be far off.

"Candela, my friend, what has brought you here?" I cried out, as I
advanced from amid the shrubs which concealed me.

"O Senor Barry, is that you? Praise Heaven!" he exclaimed, pulling out
a fish--which, with his rod, he threw