“No, no, don’t try; it’s dangerous.”
“But you don’t fancy that lizard thing, my lad; and I want you strong to-morrow. Now, look here: I’ll get close again, and risk it; and if, just as I say ‘Now,’ you’d speak to the beast quiet like, as you would to a dog, it might take his attention, and so we’d get the hind part clear off.”
“Yes,” said Rob, quietly. “Shall I walk to it?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that, but go a little way off sidewise, just keeping your distance, talking all the while, and he’d follow you with his eyes.”
Rob nodded, and turned off, as Shaddy crept close once more and stretched out his hand.
“Now!” he said; and Rob began to call the beast, fervently hoping that it would not come, but to his horror it did; and he could just dimly make out its shape, looking misty and dim in the firelight, with its eyes glowing and its tail writhing, as it slowly approached, while Rob walked farther away from his companion still.
All at once the puma stopped short, swung itself round, and, to Rob’s horror, crouched, bounded back toward where the carcass lay, leaping right to it, and burying its jaws in the deer’s neck with a savage snarl.
“Run, Shaddy,” shouted Rob.
“It’s all right, my lad,” came from a little distance: “I did. I’ve got our half, and he’s got his. Speak to him gently, and leave him to his supper. We won’t be very long before we have ours.”
“Got it?” cried Rob, eagerly, as he hurried after his companion.