Part 31 (1/2)
”Did I not tell you,” the Canadian continued, quietly, ”that it had paired?”
”I did not doubt it. If you do not know the habits of tigers, who should?”
The poor colt had risen; it was trembling all over, half dead with terror, and with its head buried between its front legs, it was standing up and uttering little plaintive cries.
”Hum!” Quoniam said, ”poor innocent brute, it understands that it is lost.”
”I hope not.”
”The jaguar will strangle it.”
”Yes, if we do not kill the brute first.”
”By Jabus!” the Negro said, ”I confess I should not be sorry if that wretched colt escaped.”
”It will do so,” the hunter answered; ”I have chosen it for Carmela.”
”Nonsense! Then why did you bring it here?”
”To make it used to the tiger.”
”Well, that is an idea! Then I need not look any longer over there?”
”No, only think of the jaguar which will come on your right, while I take charge of the other.”
”That's agreed.”
Two other louder roars burst forth almost simultaneously.
”The beast is thirsty,” Tranquil remarked; ”its anger is aroused, and it is coming nearer.”
”Good! shall we get ready?”
”Wait a while, our enemies are hesitating; they have not yet reached that paroxysm of rage which makes them forget all prudence.”
The Negro, who had risen, sat down again philosophically.
A few minutes pa.s.sed thus. At intervals the night breeze, laden with uncertain rumour, pa.s.sed over the hunters' heads, and was lost in the distance like a sigh.
They were calm and motionless, with the eye fixed on s.p.a.ce, the ear open to the mysterious noises of the desert, the finger on the rifle-trigger, ready at the first signal to face the still invisible foe, whose approach and imminent attack they, however, instinctively divined.
All at once the Canadian started, and stooped down to the ground.
”Oh!” he said, as he rose with marks of terrible anxiety, ”What is taking place in the forest?”
The roar of the tiger burst forth like a clap of thunder.
A horrible shriek responded to it, and the wild gallop of a horse was heard, approaching at headlong speed.
”Quick! Quick!” Tranquil shouted, ”Someone is in danger of death--the tiger is on his trail.”