"Yes," I answered; "but an American lion, or cougar, known by _savants_ as the _Felis puma_." "How I should like to have seen it! Had it a mane?" "No; the puma is without one." We were crossing another glade, when Gringalet suddenly rushed between our legs. On looking back, I saw the puma slyly following us. "Well, upon my word!" said Sumichrast; "does this fellow want to prove that a cougar will attack a man?" L'Encuerado, who had put down his load, was already aiming at the animal. "Don't shoot!" I cried, authoritatively. The puma did not advance any farther, but glared at us with its yellow eyes, its tail lashing its sides with a measured movement, while it displayed a formidable row of tusks. Suddenly it stretched itself along the ground, as if about to play. Lucien was now able to examine leisurely the beautiful tawny color of its coat. It surveyed us with such a quiet, gentle aspect, that it seemed as if it belonged to our party, even pushing its confidence so far as to begin its toilet by first licking its paws, and then rubbing them over its muzzle. I gave the word for continuing our journey. L'Encuerado obeyed very reluctantly. After this rencontre I placed Lucien, who congratulated himself upon having had such a near view of the beautiful animal, in the middle of the party. "If we don't eat the lion, it will eat us," said the Indian. "If we had only wounded it, it would have gone and told all its companions that it was any thing but prudent to go too close to our fire." "Well, if it comes near us again, I give you leave to shoot it." "You do? it's a bargain!" cried L'Encuerado. "Stop a minute, Tata Sumichrast; cock your gun, Chanito; you shall have the first shot." We stood together in a group, and I looked in vain for the cougar. [Illustration: "I looked in vain for the cougar."] "The rascal has got in front of us," added the Indian. "We'll astonish him in a moment. Come this way, Chanito, 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 were 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 between its eyes, Chanito; fire!" There were two reports almost at the same moment, and the animal tumbled down upon the ground without uttering 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 advanced. 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.