It was with a wonderful feeling of relief that Rob heard Brazier say, “Morning can’t be far distant,” and the guide’s reply:
“Daylight in less than an hour, sir. Croakers and squeakers are all going to sleep fast till darkness comes again.”
“Hist! listen!” whispered Rob excitedly.
“Yes, I hear it, sir. Something moving towards us.”
“What is it?”
“Don’t know, sir. May be a deer. If it is, so much the better for us, even if it has to be eaten raw. But it’s more likely some kind of cat making for the trees. Hark at your lion there; he’s getting uneasy. Mate coming to keep him company, perhaps.”
They could see the reflections of the stars blurred by the movements of the swimming animal, and that it was going on past them; but it was too dark for them to distinguish the creature, which apparently was making for the forest, but altered its course and began to swim for the tree where the party had taken refuge.
“Oh, come: that will not do,” cried Shaddy; “we’re full here. That’s right: drive him away.”
This last was to the puma, which suddenly sprang up with an angry snarl, and stood, dimly seen against the stars, with its back arched, tail curved, and teeth bared, uttering fiercely savage sounds at the swimming creature approaching.
“Some kind of cat,” said Shaddy in a low voice. “Can’t be a mate, or it would be more friendly. Hi! look out,” he said sharply, his voice full of the excitement he felt. “It’s a tiger as sure as I’m here. Out with your knives: we mustn’t let him get into the tree. No, no, Mr Brazier; you’re too weak yet. I’ll tackle him. There’s plenty of room in the other trees. We can’t have the savage brute here.”