Rob stared, looked round, and saw at a glance that the puma had evidently been hiding among the dead grass and thick growth, but had been following and watching him ever since he had seen it leap into the bushes. Then the truth dawned upon him that of course Mr Brazier could not know what had passed, and there he was with his gun raised to fire.
“Stand aside, boy!” was roared again; and, obeying the stronger will, Rob sprang aside, but only to leap back.
“Don’t fire! don’t fire!” he shrieked, but too late. The gun belched forth rapidly its two charges, and Rob fell and rolled over upon the earth.
Chapter Fourteen.
Frightened by False Fires.
“Naylor—Giovanni—help! help!” cried Brazier. “What have I done?”
As in a voice full of agony Brazier uttered these words, the dense smoke from the gun which had hidden Rob for the moment slowly rose and showed the lad lying motionless upon the earth. Shaddy rushed up, dropped upon one knee and raised the boy’s head, while with his keen knife held across his mouth he looked sharply round for the South American lion, ready to meet its attack.
But the animal was not visible, and it was directly after forgotten in the excitement centred on Rob.