Roland made constant reference to his little compass, always assuring his companion that they were still heading directly for the river.
They had hurried on for nearly an hour, when Roland suddenly paused.
A huge dark monster had leapt clear and clean across the pathway some distance ahead, and taken refuge in a tree.
It was, no doubt, another jaguar, and to advance unannounced might mean certain death to one of the three.
"Are you all loaded, Peggy?" said Roland.
"Every chamber!" replied the girl.
There was no tremor about her now; and no backwoods Indian could have acted more coolly and courageously.
"Blaze away at that tree then, Peg."
Peggy opened fire, throwing in three or four shots in rapid succession.
The beast, with a terrible cry, darted out of the tree and came rushing along to meet and fight the little party.