out and warn them to take to the trees. It then occurred
to me that I might leave Frank where he was, and by making a sudden rush
through the smoke, get nearer to Harry and Cudjo and give them warning
before the peccaries could get up. Fortunately their voices sounded in
the right direction, and I might reach them without being pursued at
all.

"I did not hesitate a moment after forming this resolve; but, handing my
empty rifle to Frank, and drawing my knife, I dropped down among the
smoking heaps of half-burnt moss. I ran off the moment my feet touched
the ground; and, after going a distance of an hundred yards or so, I
came in sight of the dogs, and the next moment of Harry and Cudjo. But
at the same instant, on glancing back, I saw the whole herd of the
peccaries rushing after me with shrill cries. I had barely time to
shout to Harry and Cudjo, and swing myself up to a branch, when the
animals were around me. The others, seeing me climb, and also
perceiving the cause, made to a tree; and the next moment I had the
satisfaction of seeing both of them mount into its branches. The dogs,
on the contrary, ran forward to meet the herd, and give them battle.
This did not last long, for as soon as they had encountered the sharp
teeth of the peccaries they ran howling back to the tree where Harry and
Cudjo had taken shelter. Fortunately for the dogs, poor brutes! there
were some low branches, to which, by the help of Cudjo, they were able
to spring up. Had it not been so, they would soon have suffered the
fate of the cougar; for the peccaries, fiercely enraged in their short
encounter with them, pursued them hotly, and surrounded the tree into
which they had been lucky enough to climb.

"I was now left to myself. From the position I occupied I could not see
Harry, Cudjo, or the mastiffs; but I could see the black herd that was
around them. I could hear all that passed--the howling of the dogs--the
voices of Harry and Cudjo--the vengeful notes of the peccaries, all
ringing together in a wild concert. Then I heard the crack of the
little rifle, and I saw one of the animals tumble over upon the ground.
I heard the shouts of Cudjo, and I could see the blade of his long spear
lunging down a intervals among the dark bodies below. I could see that
it streamed with blood; and that numbers of the animals were falling to
the earth. Again came the crack of Harry's rifle, again the loud
barking of the dogs, and again the sh