Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-02


hook stock? Then, if you have, you know
how the stock will sway and quiver under
the birds weight. Well, what that bird was
to the hollyhock, was so that carob tree.
1t swayed and shook under my weight just
ike that hollyhock under the bird. But |
knew the tree was tough, and didn't feel
afraid-not on that-my thoughts were on
something else, very much more dangerour.
Yonder the jaguar came, bounding along
on my track, smelling the ground every now
ard then, like pointer dog, and then set
ting up that appalling roar that no living
man can hear without his flesh creeping
That fact, whether the man is afraid or
not, it S curious and well known effect of
the jaguar roar, that it makes the nerves
tingle in that quivering way that we call
flesh creeping.
When he had got within about fifty rods
of the tree he seemed to lose the track.
He got off to the side and passed, uncertain.
He put his nose to the ground, snuihng ca
gerly, and dashing around at last in fierce
fury of rage at having lost my trail. He
| lashed his body with his long tail, he
/ bounded about, he rent the air with screams
| of anger; and / thought he would have
been splendid sight to look upon if | could
have felt safe. But knew he would pres
emily get on my track, and then-well L
could not bid very high on the chances for
my escape | assure you He was in a fine
passion by this tinIe, and in his circling
about kept drawing nearer to me in the tree,
though he had lost my trail He was mag
nifcent specimen of his kind-about two
feet and half high, and six feet long,
without measuring his tail; his hide a
| fierce yellow, spotted all over with dark
rings.
At last he got the trail again; and being
by this time so long baked of his prey, he
set up a wild screech that made me shiver,
and no mistake.
! The next instant he had sprung forward
and grabbed the tree with his huge paws,
and was standing on his hind legs, staring
up at me with his fierce, red eyes. The lit
! tie tree trembled under the influence of his
weight; and felt like fainting and falling
! from the tree to be eaten up.
Finding he couldn't climb such slender
trunk, the jaguar got down, drew back lit
tie, and gave one great leap at me. He
couldn't jump to where | was, though. But
he struck the tree high up, and, for an in
slant, clung to it, bearing it over with his
irht / ha re
protect US my time has come!"
But it was only for moment. Then be
gan a scene which never, to my dying day
shah forget. | lived years in the two
hoursof horrible suspense that followed.
Down under me the jaguar ragged. He
swept around and around the tree, his red
eyes fixed on me with an unrelaxing vigi-
lince. Tired at last, with this, he crouch
ed down ander the tree, roaring with fury
at being thus tantalized, fixed his eyes on
mine and sat there; his red mouth gaping
wide showing his jagged rows of teeth, and
his tail beating the ground. NV attitude
in the branches of the tree was such a one
that it began, at last, to tell upon my over
strained muscles. | felt myself growing
weaker and weaker. The jaguar's eyes ex-
erted a sort of facination over me, as ser
pents does over a bird. | couldn't change
my position without great danger of falling,
and began to mutter to myself, like man
who is going crazy.
All of sudden began to pray and as
/ | prayed my strength seemed to return to
me, and the film that was gathering over my
eyes to break away
80 Father in heaven" / breathed 'save
me from, the jaws of this terrible man eater
/ save me save me
| 1t was all | could mutter. for was like
/ one sinking into dream.
Aud all the time sat the jaguar, his gaze
! riveted on mine-his eyes seemed absolutely
I red with gore-blind to everything in the
world but the man whose blood he thirsted
| for, deaf to every sound, conscious only OF
his prey, and his rage at being baffied SO
| long.
'Ah, my prayer is heard"
! There came the swish of lasso, which
went over the beasts neck suddenly, and
was drawn tight. Swish, went another from
the other side, drawn tight Then, for the
first time, tore my gaze away from the tt
ger blood red eyes, and beheld my deliver
ers.
''Juanl Pedrol" screamed aloud, and
fell to laughing immoderately.
Saved - came the answer. Saved, com
radel Climb down and slay your enemy.
I slid out of the tree like monkey. l
whipped out my knife and approached the
jaguar.
Pull, Juan - | cried; pull, Pedro y
Drawn thus at opposite directions by two
lassoes the jaguar reared, helpless, on his
hind legs. | took my knife and plunged it
into his side, and bounded back out of The
| Murderers" way. He fell dead at my feet
Nothing Is more easy than to grow rich.
1t is only to trust nobody; to befriend none
to get everything you can and save all you
get; to stint yourself and every body belong
| ing to you; to be the friend o: no man, and
have no man for our friend; to heap inter-