A deep-toned roaring sound awoke me up with a start; the first thing I saw was Lucien, with his gun in his hand, crouching down close to Sumichrast. On the shore, about sixty yards from us, I saw a long tawny form, and two shining eyes. A second roar told me the name of our nocturnal visitor, whose voice I fancied I had heard in a dream.
"And where is l'Encuerado?" I asked my companion.
"He is crawling away to the other side."
A shot cut these words short; the animal gave another roar, and rushed into the jungle. We heard a noise like a scuffle, and then the jaguar again came in sight; it ran round and round, roaring with rage. A final bound brought it to within twenty paces of our camp fire, when it fell never to rise again.
This sound took a weight off my mind, for I could not but feel alarmed for the safety of l'Encuerado.
"Ohé! ohé!" was responded.
Gringalet, who was let loose, ran towards the enormous creature, and barked at it from a safe distance. The Indian came up, with his gun upon his shoulder.
"The beast is justly mine, isn't it, Tatita, and I am still the tiger-hunter?"
"Yes," I replied; "but let the tigers alone, if they will allow you, and let us go to rest."