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Rob Harlow's Adventures: A Story of the Grand Chaco, a fiction by George Manville Fenn |
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Chapter 27. The Four-Footed Friend |
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_ CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. THE FOUR-FOOTED FRIEND The lad said nothing, so great was the change from hope to despondency; and he hardly noticed the sound close beside him, as Shaddy said gruffly-- "Well, if any one had told me that, I wouldn't have believed it!" "Is it any use to shout again, Shaddy?" said Rob, as he looked down at the indistinctly-seen shape of the dull tawny-coated puma, which had carried its captive after them to the clearing, and had now quietly lain down to its feast. "No, Mr Rob, sir; if he's here, it's in the shelter-place we made, utterly done up with tramping. Let's go and see." It was no easy task to get even there in the darkness, but they soon after stood at the end, and Rob convinced himself in a few moments that they were alone. "Oh, Shaddy!" he cried piteously, "he hasn't come back. What can we do to find him?" "I'll show you, sir," said the man, quietly. "First thing is to make up the fire." "For him to see? Yes; that's right." "Man couldn't see the fire many yards away in the wood, Mr Rob, sir. I meant for us, so as to roast a bit of that deer, if the lion'll let us have it." "I must do something to help Mr Brazier!" said Rob, angrily. "That's helping him, my lad--having a good meal to make us strong. After that we'll have a good sleep to make us rested." "Oh, no! no!" cried Rob, angrily. "But I say yes, yes, yes, sir!" said Shaddy, firmly. "I know what you feel, my lad, and it's quite nat'ral; but just hark ye here a moment. Can we do anything to find him in that black darkness to-night?" "No," said Rob, in despair; "it is, I know, impossible." "Quite right, my lad. Then as soon as it's daylight oughtn't we to be ready to go and help him?" "Of course, Shaddy." "Then how can we do most good,--as half-starved, worn-out fellows, without an ounce of pluck between us, or well-fed, strong, and refreshed, ready to tramp any number of hours, and able to carry him if it came to the worst? Answer me that." "Come and light the fire, Shaddy," said Rob, quietly. "Ah!" ejaculated the old sailor, and he led the way to where the embers lay, warm still, and with plenty of dry wood about. Five minutes after the fire was blazing merrily and illumining the scene. "Now," cried Shaddy, "if your Tom would play fair, and let us have the hind-quarters of that deer, we might have it instead of the lizard. He'll only eat the neck, I daresay. Shall we try him? I don't think he'd show fight at you, sir." "Let's try," said Rob, quietly. "I don't think I'm afraid of him now." "Not you, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy; and they went together to where they had left the puma feasting upon the deer, but, to the surprise of both, there lay the carcass partly eaten about the throat and breast, and the puma had gone. "He can't have had enough yet," growled Shaddy, dropping upon his knees, knife in hand; and, seizing hold of the deer, he drove his blade in just across the loins, separating the vertebrae at the first thrust, but started back directly, as a low and fierce growl came from the edge of the forest, where they could see a pair of fiery eyes lit up by the blaze they had left behind. "I know," cried Shaddy; "he was scared off by our fire, but he don't want to lose his supper. What shall we do, Mr Rob? Two more cuts, and I could draw the hind-quarters away. I'll try it." The puma was silent, and Shaddy slowly approached his hand, thrust in his knife, and made one bold cut which swept through the deer's flank; but another growl arose, and there was a bound made by the puma--which, however, turned and crept slowly back to cover, where it stood watching them, with the fire again reflected in its eyes. "He don't mean mischief, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy. "I'll have another try. I may get through it this time." "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. "Yes, my lad--all right;" and a few minutes later pieces of the tender, succulent flesh, quite free from marks of the puma's claws, were frizzling over the clear embers and emitting an appetising odour, which taught the boy how hungry he was; and as they were cooking, Shaddy talked of how tame he had known pumas to be, and of how they seemed to take to man. "I wouldn't trust a tiger the length of his tail," he said, as they raked hot coals nearer to the roasting meat; "but I should never feel skeart of a lion, so long as I didn't get fighting him. Strikes me that after a fashion you might get that chap kind of tame. Shouldn't wonder if, when he's done, he comes and lies down here for a warm." Rob thought of his former night's experience, when something came and nestled near him; and the next minute he was doing the same as the puma--partaking of the nourishing meat, every mouthful seeming to give him fresh strength. It was a rough, but enjoyable meal, nature making certain demands which had to be satisfied; and for the moment, as he fell to after his long fast, Rob forgot his boyish companion and the second loss he had sustained. But as soon as he had finished, the depression came back, and he felt ashamed of himself for having enjoyed his food instead of dwelling upon some means of finding out where Mr Brazier had strayed. His attention was taken off, though, directly by Shaddy, who said slowly: "That's better. Nothing like a good honest meal for setting a man going again and making him ready to think and work. I say, look yonder at your tom-cat." The fire had just fallen together, and was blazing up so as to spread a circle of light for some distance round; and upon looking in the direction of the puma Rob could see it lying down feasting away upon its share of the deer, apparently quite confident that it was in the neighbourhood of friends, and not likely to be saluted with a shot. It struck Rob that the animal must be pretty well satisfied now with food, and in consequence less likely to be vicious, so he rose. "Where are you going, Mr Rob, sir?" said Shaddy. "Over to the puma." "I wouldn't. Oh, I don't know. Best time to make friends--after dinner. I'd be careful, though, my lad." "Yes; I'll take care," said Rob, who felt a strong desire to find another friend out there in the wilderness, now that his companions were dropping away; and thinking that the time might come when he would be quite alone, he walked slowly toward where the puma was crunching up some of the tender bones of the deer. Rob kept a little to one side, so that his shadow should not fall upon the animal, which paid no heed to his approach for a few moments; then uttered a low fierce snarl and laid down its ears, making the boy stop short and feel ready to retreat, as the animal suddenly sprang up and stood lashing its tail and licking its lips. But it made no further menacing sign, and walked quietly toward him and then stood waiting. Rob hesitated. Nature suggested flight, but Rob wanted to tame the beast, and mastering his dread he advanced, and in spite of a warning admonition from Shaddy, took another step or two and stopped by the puma, which stared at him intently for a few moments. It then set all doubts as to its feelings at rest by suddenly butting its head against Rob's leg, and as the lad bent down and patted it, threw itself on one side, and with the playful action of a kitten curved its paws, made dabs with them at the lad's foot, and ended by holding it and rubbing its head against his boot. "Well done, beast tamer!" cried Shaddy; and the puma threw up its head directly and stared in the direction of the sound; but a touch from Rob's hand quieted it, and it stretched itself out and lay with its eyes half closed, apparently thoroughly enjoying the caresses of its human friend. "Better get to the shelter, Mr Rob, sir," said Shaddy suddenly; and after a final pat and stroke, the boy turned away from the puma and walked back to the fire, finding that the animal had sprung up and followed him directly for about half the distance, but only to stop short and stand there, handsome and lithe, watching them and the fire, while its tail played about and the fine hairs glistened. "He don't know what to make of me, Mr Rob, sir; and as we've no dog I may as well be friends too. Try and bring him up. He won't be a bad companion, 'specially if he hunts deer for us like he did to-night. He'll be good as a gun." "He doesn't seem to like you, Shaddy." "No, sir. I'm old and tough; you're young and tender," said the guide grimly. "He's cunning, as all cats are; and some day, when he's hungry and is enjoying you, he'll say to himself--'This is a deal better than that tough old sailor, who'd taste strong of tar and bilge.' Here, what are you going to do?" "Try and fetch him here," said Rob, smiling as he went close up to the puma, which crouched again at his approach; and full of confidence now, the lad went down on one knee, patting and stroking the beast for a minute, talking softly the while. The result was that as he rose the puma leaped up, bounded round him, and then followed close up to the fire, but met all Shaddy's advances with a low growl and a laying down of its ears flat upon its head. "All right," said Shaddy, "I don't want to be friends if you don't, puss; only let's have a--what-you-may-call-it?" "Truce," suggested Rob. "That's it, sir. I won't show fight if he won't. Now then, sir, let's make up the fire; and then--bed." Shaddy quickly piled up a quantity of wood on the embers, beating and smothering it down, so that they might have it as a protection against enemies and as a ready friend in the morning. Then, shouldering the portion left of the deer, he led the way to the rough hut, hung the meat high up in a tree and crept in, Rob following and wondering whether the puma would stop near them. But the animal hung back as Rob followed his companion into the dark triangular-shaped space, where, after a short time devoted to meditation, he threw himself upon his bed of leaves to lie and think of his two lost companions. At least, that was his intention, but the moment Rob rose in the darkness from his knees and lay down with a restful sigh, he dropped into a deep dreamless sleep, from which he half awoke once to stretch out his hand and feel it rest upon something furry and warm, which he dimly made out to be the curled-up body of the puma. Then he slept again till broad daylight showed in through the end of the bough, but half shut away by the figure of the guide, who said roughly: "Now you two: time to get up." At that moment Rob's hand rested upon a round, soft head, which began to move, and commenced a vibratory movement as a deep humming purr filled the place. _ |
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