CHAPTER XXIX. 



A NOCTURNAL VISITOE — THE FALL OF A TREE — A FEARFUL NIGHT — THE 

 MONKEYS — MASTER JOB — ALL EIGHT AT LAST. 



^nM|FTER looking at us for a moment, the animal crept 

 m^ cunningly round us, alternately appearing and disap- 

 •^^^ pearing behind the trees. I hastened to make up the 

 fire, and then sat down near Lucien, who, gun in hand, was 

 bravely watching the enemy. 



" Whatever you do, don't fire," I said. 



" If I did, would the animal spring upon us ? " 



" He would far more likely retreat ; but we shall want our 

 ammunition to-morrow." 



For an hour the animal kept prowling round, every now and 

 then bounding off. At last it came and sat down about twenty 

 paces from the fire, then stretched itself on the ground and 

 rolled about as if in play ; but if we made the slightest move- 

 ment, it immediately got up, and laying back its ears, showed 

 its formidable teeth. Suddenly a noise as if of breaking branches 

 was heard, followed by reports like those of guns, then came a 

 horrible roar. Lucien, frightened, rushed into my arms. 



"What!" said I to him, "don't you remember the noise 

 made by the fall of a tree ? " 



" papa ! I have heard nothing like it since the day of the 

 hurricane." 



" That is quite true ; but it is an incident to which you will 



