"Hum!" Quoniam said, "poor innocent brute, it understands that it is lost." "I hope not." "The jaguar will strangle it." "Yes, if we do not kill the brute first." "By Jabus!" the Negro said, "I confess I should not be sorry if that wretched colt escaped." "It will do so," the hunter answered; "I have chosen it for Carmela." "Nonsense! Then why did you bring it here?" "To make it used to the tiger." "Well, that is an idea! Then I need not look any longer over there?" "No, only think of the jaguar which will come on your right, while I take charge of the other." "That's agreed." Two other louder roars burst forth almost simultaneously. "The beast is thirsty," Tranquil remarked; "its anger is aroused, and it is coming nearer." "Good! shall we get ready?" "Wait a while, our enemies are hesitating; they have not yet reached that paroxysm of rage which makes them forget all prudence." The Negro, who had risen, sat down again philosophically. A few minutes passed thus. At intervals the night breeze, laden with uncertain rumour, passed over the hunters' heads, and was lost in the distance like a sigh. They were calm and motionless, with the eye fixed on space, the ear open to the mysterious noises of the desert, the finger on the rifle-trigger, ready at the first signal to face the still invisible foe, whose approach and imminent attack they, however, instinctively divined. All at once the Canadian started, and stooped down to the ground. "Oh!" he said, as he rose with marks of terrible anxiety, "What is taking place in the forest?" The roar of the tiger burst forth like a clap of thunder. A horrible shriek responded to it, and the wild gallop of a horse was heard, approaching at headlong speed. "Quick! Quick!" Tranquil shouted, "Someone is in danger of death--the tiger is on his trail." The two hunters rushed intrepidly in the direction of the roars. The whole forest seemed quivering; nameless sounds issued from the hidden lairs, resembling at one moment mocking laughter, at another cries of agony. The hoarse miauling of the jaguars went on uninterruptedly. The gallop of the horses which the hunters heard at first seemed multiplied and issuing from opposite points. The panting hunters still ran on in a straight line, bounding over ravines and morasses with wonderful speed; the terror they felt for the strangers whom they wished to help gave them wings. Suddenly a shriek of agony, louder and more despairing than the former, was heard a short distance off. "Oh!" Tranquil shouted, in a paroxysm of madness, "It is she! It is Carmela!" And, bounding like a wild beast, he rushed forward, followed by Quoniam, who, during the whole wild race, had never left him a hair's breadth. Suddenly a deadly silence fell over the desert--every noise, every rumour, ceased as if by enchantment, and nothing could be heard save the panting of the hunters, who still ran on.