A YOUNG NATURALIST. 



405 



"The rascal has got in front of us," added the Indian. 

 " We'll astonish him in a moment. Come this way, Chani- 

 to, but don't run or turn round. Do you see that tree that 

 stands in front of us? Not so far that way — that one we 

 w r ere just going to pass under. Look at the wonderful 

 fruit it has on it !" 



" It is the puma !" exclaimed the boy. 



" That's pleasant !" muttered Sumichrast. " Then there 

 are two pumas." 



" No, no, Tata Sumichrast, it is the same one. Aim be- 

 tween its eyes, Chanito ; fire !" 



There were two reports almost at the same moment, and 

 the animal tumbled down upon the ground without utter- 

 ing a cry. 



" Don't be too quick, Chanito," continued the Indian ; 

 " this is not a water-dog ; always reload your gun, whether 

 the enemy be dead or not, before you trust yourself within 

 its reach." 



Gringalet ventured to bark round the beast, and I kept 

 in readiness to shoot, while my companions cautiously ad- 

 vanced. The cougar had been struck in the forehead, and 

 no longer breathed. It was about three feet in length, and 

 its hair, which was slightly waved on some parts of its 

 body, showed it was a young one. The Indian raised the 

 animal's enormous head. 



"Come," he said, "you deserve to die like a warrior. 

 You are the first of your race which ever ventured so close 

 to my gun. Was it Chanito you wanted to devour ?" 



" I think it much more probable that it wanted Gringa- 

 let ; what a pity it is that we can't tame these beautiful 

 cats !" 



" Cats !" repeated Lucien. 



" Yes, to be sure ; the great African lion itself is nothing 

 but the largest and strongest of all the cat tribe. Didn't 

 you know that ?" 



