“Well,” said Brazier, drily, “self-preservation’s the first law of nature. I do not want to show the white feather, but really I think we had better do as the men have done—get on board and wait for our enemy there. What do you say, lads!”
“Decidedly, yes,” cried both eagerly.
“But we don’t know as it is our enemy yet, sir,” replied Shaddy, thoughtfully. “Hah! hark at that!”
They needed no telling, for all shivered slightly, as another cry, very different from the last, rang out from the forest—half roar, half howl, of a most appalling nature.
“Here, let’s get on board,” said Brazier.
“Not for that, sir,” cried Shaddy, with one of his curiously harsh laughs. “Why, that’s only one of them big howling monkeys who would go off among the branches twisting his tail, and scared ’most into fits, if you looked at him.”
“A monkey!” cried Rob. “Are you sure?”
“Oh, yes, I’m sure enough ’bout that, gentlemen. It’s the other thing that puzzles me.”
They ceased speaking and stood watchfully waiting; but after a retrograde movement toward the boat, so as to be able to retreat at any moment. The cry was not repeated, though, and the feeling of awe began to die off, but only to return on Shaddy continuing,—
“There’s a something there, or else that there howler wouldn’t have hollered once and then gone off. The lions and tigers, too, have slinked away. That’s a lion—puma you call him—ever so far off; and, I can hear a couple of tigers quite faint-like; but all the things near here have stopped calling, and that shows there’s that thing prowling about.”