Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1869-06-02
HUNTED BY 4 JAGUAR.

IL IL LII u L q III ~ h-i'
You must know that the jaguar, general
lyis ike other wild beasts in this respect
that he don prey on human flesh. He
preys on animals and fish, and only fights a
man when he is attacked himself But
though this is true of the !jaguar in general,
it is not true of some particular ones, you
see. When one of them has once met
man, aud fought with him, he is not the
same beast for the rest of life-he's more
ferocious and bloodthirsty. Even if the
man escapes, this is true. But when he
don t escape, when he is killed, and the ia
guar eats him up-ah, that's u dreadful
misfortune.
Of course, it's always misfortune for a
human being to be killed. that 5 understood !:
but It misfortune in this case for this
reason the iaguar becomes from that day
hunter OF men He watches for men night
and day, and woe to the man that crosses
his track
Well, that was my lot exactly. | crossed
the track of man eater whose fame was a
terror to the whole country. The hardest
hunters would tremble at the sound of his
name-for he was so celebrated that he was
known far and vide by the nickname of
The Murderer" He had succeeded in
catching and eating eleven men up to the
tIne ran across him, and so you may un-
ne:>tand what monster he was. He would
'eEiure forth nearer the edge OF the great
South American forest thar any other belst
ot his tribe--for you know the .iaguar lives
very deep in the woods, as rue
Well, about the one am speaking of. |
got into trouble in San Blanco, and was
obliged to take tC the woods for safety, till
my companions could join me- 1t was not
without very uncomfortable feeling under
my wa>tcoat that | struck into the woods
for | had no more deadly weapon than my
knite-nO gun, no pistol-nothing that |
could even a:temptto defend myself with in
case OF ali attack
There Were rumOrs that The Murderer"
had been seen within 4 few days in the
neIghborh0od; and, in fact, the provincial
justice had that very day issued call to the
hlntsmen of the district to gather on the
mOrrOw, and set out in pursuit Of this ter
nole man eater. So, of course, my tho Is
were full of the beast.
You must know that there is broad des-
eTt between San Blanco and the woods
vast waste without water of vegetation, ,and
only here and there tree But it would not
AFFORD He a safe hiding place, and so | had
10 hurry across it as fast as | couldin order
tJs-t into the woods
lad gone but a little distance in the
aaFA forest, looking about cautiously, when
heard, away off in the distance, noise
which knew at once to be the jaguar' 5
I'ar Mynerves were all of tremble, ow-
mgto the excitement vas in, and this ad
led 10 the fact that | was waiting eyery
minute IN fgar of that very sound, made me
near Il great distance off. My flesh al
most creDt as heard that long terrible
S'reech, noise such as no other animal
makes and enough to set your teeth on
edge, even If he didn mean death.
but 1t dld mean death to me-and ter
rt!e death too.
lhlS and good deal more ran through
my head like lightning when | heard that
aaron screaming; | knew he had snuffed
my 0iood, and | imagined him crashing
'Hfeugh the woods, his tail flying and his
eyes blazing, on my back How was / to
eSape1 At first | thought of going up one
u 'he great solid trees which were around
He but then | remembered that the ia
Sul- vas sklltul climber, and that with
Their low hanging branches he could easily
i'ach me. My only chance was to reach
Sa'on tree which stood all alone out on the
ueSert' towards the town. PERHAPS the ia
guar would not follw me there.
Inc screaming was now distinctly audible,
a,a was no longer in doubt. Throwing
gH everything that could cucumber me,
'egan to run. | am good runner l new
saw many men that could run with me,
oI' 10 outrun jaguar? ] never had any
'1ea oil doing it. Still thought might
reach the carob tree.
me cries became more freduent and loud
Il as l ran, and at last looking back when I
y, ~&S about half way to the tree. saw ''The
''ruerer springing over the ground, gain
rs ~, On NE at every bound. Nevertheless,
n'l reach the tree in time. 1t was tall
aug slim one; therein lay its value, you
I'n prehend. There was only nest of
ranches up at the top, and none but good