This idea, however, belonged to a higher development of brain than his; and, after seizing the lasso several times, and shaking it as before, he returned to the ground to his mate, who had sat all the while watching his manoeuvres.
These efforts to reach the meat occupied nearly an hour.

During all that time the boys stood within the _circle of fire_, in the most distressing situation.

They were half-roasted by the heat, that had been all along increasing, as the black logs burned into red embers.
They had made their circle _too small_; and they stood as in the midst of a fiery furnace! The smoke had partially cleared away, and they could witness every movement of the cougars; but the terrible heat that oppressed them had almost conquered their fear of these animals; and little would now have tempted them to rush forth and battle with them.

The perspiration ran from every pore, and their guns felt like bars of hot iron! "I can stand it no longer," cried Basil; "let us fire at them, rush out, and take our chance." "Patience, brother," replied Lucien.

"One moment longer.