CHAPTER XXIX. 



A NOCTURNAL VISITOR. THE FALL OF A TREE. A FEAR- 

 FUL NIGHT. THE MONKEYS. MASTER JOB. — ALL RIGHT 



AT LAST. 



A FTER looking at us for a moment, the animal crept 

 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 movement 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 re- 

 ports like those of guns ; then came a horrible roar. Lu- 

 cien, frightened, rushed into my arms. 



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

 made by the fall of a tree ?" 



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

 the hurricane." 



