The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-06-21
ADVENTURES IN PERU.
From Rsid's Forest Eriles.

The ch!gulres that escaped past the crocoulIe
the next instant plunged into the river, and
disappeared under the water. They would
come 10 the surface for breath in ten or twelve
minutes. but at such distance off that they
needed no longer fear pursuit from the same
enemy.
Our travellers took no notice Of them from
the moment they were fairly out of the bushes.
They saw that the crocodile had knocked one
of them over; but the eyes of Guapo and Don
Pablo were directed upon different place
the pont at which the chiguires had sailed out
Of the underwood. These knew that the ami
mails had not issued forth in their natural way,
"a if they were going TO the stream to drink, or
IN search Of food. No-quite different. Their
brs,les we're erect-they were excited-they
were terriiied-beyond doubt they were pur-
sued
Who or what was their pursuer? 1t might
he an ocelot or the yaguarundi, or some one
of the smaller cats for many of these prey on
the defenceless capivara. 1t might be one of
these, thought Don Pablo and Guapo but
what if it was not? What else could it be?
What else? The .jagntdr!
1t ras the iaguar! AS they stood gazing
with looks full of apprehension, the leaves OF
til, underwood were seen to move, and then
beautiful but terrible object, the spotted head
OF 4 laglaT, was thrust iOrIn. III retnalieu Il
moment, rs if recommending; and then the
whole body, bright and glistening, glided clear
Of the leaves and stood boldly out in front of
the underwood. Here it halted another mo-
nent-ony moment. The crocodile had
turned itself, and was about closing its jaws
upon the body Of the chiguire, when the ia
quar-, seeing this, uttered loud scream, and,
making one bound forward, seized the dead
animal almost at the same instant
They were now face to face-the great lizard
and the great cat and their common prey was
between them. Each had firm hold with his
powerful jaws, and each appeared determined
to keep what he had got. The yellow eyes of
the jaguar seemed to flash fire, and the black
sunken orbs of the saurian glared with lurid
and deadly light. 1t was a terrible picture to
look upon.
For some seconds both remained apparently
gazing into each others eyes, and firmly hold
ing the prey between them. The tail of the
jaguar vibrated in sudden angry jerks, while
that Of the crocodile lay bent into semicirce,
as If ready to be sprung at a moments notice.
This inaction did not last long. The fury of
the jaguar was evidently on the increase. He
was indignant that he, the king of the Ameri-
can forest, should thus meet with opposition to
his will and, indeed, the crocodile was about
dare oppose him in open fight But he was
determined to conquer even this enemy, and
for that purpose he prepared himself
Sui holding on to the capivsra, and watch
lng his opportunity, he sprang suddenly for
ward. throwing one Of his great paws far in
ADVANCE. HIS object was to cidW The eye of his
adversary: Tor he well knew that the latter was
vulnerable neither upon its long snout, nor Its
gaant jaws, nor even upon the tough, scaly
SKIN Of ITS throat. Its eyes alone could be in
Jured, and these were the objects of the ia
guar's attack
The thrust was a failure. The crocodile had
anticipated such manmuvre, and. suddenly
raising himself on his fore legs, threw up one
Of his great scaly hands and warded off the
DOW he Jagnar, fearing to be clutched be-
tween the strong fore arms of the saurian, drew
hack to his former position.
ms manmuvre and its counter maneuvre
were repeated several times; and although
rach time the struggle lasted a little longer than
before, and there was good deal of lashing of
ais and tearing of teeth, and scratching of
Claws, still neither of the combatants seemed
10 gam any great advantage. Both were now
al the height Of their fury, and third enemy
approaching the spot would not have been
Aeedei By either.
From the first, the head of the crocodile had
been turned to the water, from which he was
mo- distant over ten feet. He had, in fact, been
'a'rEinS biz prey towards it when he was inter
'1p'e0 by the attack of the laguar; and now
a. - every fresh opportunity he was pushing on,
p.' 'E bi', IN that direction. He knew that in
Is own proper element he would be more than
"'@'ch ior his spotted assailant, and no doubt
80 iui5h' have escaped from the contest by
'-.iehleFing his prey. Had he been smaller
.O'oulie' he would only have been too glad to
1'e uole So; but trusting to his size and
gun and perhaps not little to the Justice
y A.s cause. ne was determined not to go with
''1 .,"A.hg the capivara along with him.
re laguar, on the other hand, was Just as
'lFlihned ne should not. He, too, had some
LM {uG' The capivara would not have been
l'.ieu 50 easily, had he not frightened it from
'Id' besides, the crocodile was out of his
cs TEN lie was poaching on the domain of
u lhe forest monarch.
.. pn 3y bit the crocodile was gaining ground !;
al each fresh pause in the struooie he was
Urging forward pushing the chieuire before
,a.i' ana OF course causing his antagonist to
maze A, ground backwards.
rue Jaguar at length felt his hind feet in the
80 and this seemed to act upon him like a
Ia VI electricity. All at once he let go his
an me caplvara, ran few feet forward,
rTs, ,-o1 nattening his body along the ground,
asa lr,lei himself for mighty spring. Before
mt .0Jnl mad passed, he launched his body high
tIe o- le ar, and descended upon the back of
IA crocodile just over his fore shoulders. He
ls,t "o " settle there, but ran nimby down the
aud L: me saurian, towards its hinder part,
its sal, c,aWs could be heard rafting against
eloso sam. In moment more he was seen
vi,L fu4ued along the crocodile's body, and
Tail 7" IL teeth tearing fercely at the root of its
,ta ie Knew that, after the eyes, this was
,U'S vulnerable part of his antagonist, and
he Ia. uGI been allowed but few minutes time
4, III u soon have disabled the crocodile for
worIS seriously wounded the root of his tail
Neanaa nave been to have destroyed his essential
eae-- Iaguar would have succeeded. had the
fro-o inter ~ occurred only dozen wards farther
70 ~. 'le water But the crocodile was close
tave e. niser edge, and perceiving the advan-
d 6;aSs'hst him, and that there was no hope
capiya-o Olhung his adversary, he dropped the
tie ws,a, ana; crawling forward, plunged into
from III When fairly launched he shot out
jaguar I Shore like an arrow, carrying the
dived Ing, and the next moment he had
was = The depth of the stream. The water
and tail. ALI INTO foam by the blows of his feet
low bIdl, oat In the midst of the froth the vel
surface 81 the jaguar was seen rising to the
SEARCH, @no after turning once or twice. as Il
headed Tor his hated enemy. the creature
L. wi ue bank and climbed out. he