A YOUNG NATURALIST. 291 



" The wild boar is twice as big. A characteristic of the 

 peccary is, that its tail is rudimentary, and the bristles spotted 

 with black and white ; moreover, only its legs are eatable." 



L'Encuerado went round the edge of the lake in order to trace 

 the course of the stream. We lost more than an hour in false 

 channels, and the raft ran aground in a shallow. 



When the sun had set, and all the birds were flying over us 

 to their retreats, we landed to bivouac for the night. 



A deep-toned roaring sound awoke me up with a start ; the 

 first thing I saw was Lucien with his gun in his hand, crouching 

 down close to Sumichrast. On the shore, about sixty yards 

 from us, I saw a long tawny form and two shining eyes. A 

 second roar told me the name of our nocturnal visitor, whose 

 voice I fancied I had heard in a dream. 

 ■ " And where is I'Encuerado ? " I asked my companion. 



" He is crawling away to the other side." 



A shot cut these words short ; the animal gave another roar 

 and rushed into the jungle. We heard a noise like a scuffle, and 

 then the jaguar again came in sight; it ran round and round 

 roaring with rage. A final bound brought it to within twenty 

 paces of our camp fire, when it fell never to rise again. 



" Hiou ! hiou ! Chanito." 



This sound took a weight off my mind, for I could not but feel 

 alarmed for the safety of I'Encuerado. 



" Oh^ ! oh6 ! " was responded. 



Gringalet, who was let loose, ran towards the enormous crea- 

 ture, and barked at it from a safe distance. The Indian came up 

 with his gun upon his shoulder. 



" The beast is justly mine, isn't it, Tatita, and I am still the 

 tiger-hunter ? " 



" Yes," I replied ; " but let the tigers alone, if they will allow 

 you, and let us go to rest." 



We were all going to lie down when the roar of a tiger again 

 shook the air. 



" Holloa ! " cried my friend ; " is your beast come to life again ? " 



" No, Tatita Sumichrast ; but my tiger is a tigress, and her 

 mate is come to see after her." 



