"We have gone too far," said I to the lad; "and perhaps we shall not be able to get back to the 'Palm-tree Villa' this evening. I am going to fire off my gun to attract l'Encuerado's attention." The report resounded. I listened with an anxiety which increased when I perceived that I had only three cartridges left, and Lucien only retained two charges. "You had better shoot now," said I to the lad, "so that l'Encuerado may understand that we are signalling to him." I again listened almost breathlessly, but in vain. "We must rest here without our supper," said I, with a gayety I was far from feeling; "if we go on walking, we might lose ourselves." After cutting some fagots and making a fire in a semicircle round a tree I lay down, with my dear companion beside me; and, though I tried hard to conceal it, I could not but feel the gloomiest forebodings. [Illustration: "The head and bright eyes of a superb jaguar appeared about fifty paces from us."] About midnight the breeze calmed down, and I closed my eyes that I might the better hear the slightest noise. Several times I thought I caught the faintest vibrations of a dull sound; but I ultimately attributed these noises to my over-excited imagination. Suddenly a terrible roar re-echoed through the forest and woke up Lucien. "What is the matter? Is it Chema?" "No, my boy; it is a jaguar." "Will it come near us?" "I hope not, but go on with its nocturnal hunting; anyhow, behind the fire we have nothing to fear." I put Lucien back against the tree and cocked my gun, when the head and bright eyes of a superb jaguar appeared about fifty paces from us. [Illustration] [Illustration] CHAPTER XXIX. A NOCTURNAL VISITOR.--THE FALL OF A TREE.--A FEARFUL NIGHT.--THE MONKEYS.--MASTER JOB.--ALL RIGHT AT LAST. After looking at us for a moment, the animal crept cunningly round us, alternately appearing and disappearing 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 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?" "Oh papa! I have heard nothing like it since the day of the hurricane." [Illustration: "We now came upon some creeping plants."]