The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1874-01-01
A HUNTER OF CENTRAL AMER.
ICA.

The deer, noted. were all upon their
feet, as if alarmed by the smell of my
tobacco or else by the passage of the
giant bird. A new animal had also
made his appearance on the savanna
since my last observation; fine gray
OK, which was grazing on the other side.
With that unreasoning instinct which
one soon learns in the forest, my eyes
fixed themselves upon this animal, al
though no sign appeared to excite ra-
tional suspicion. Oxen are common
enough in Chontales, where they are
bred for the San Salvador market, and
of course many of them stray from the
herd and run wild; all through the
forests of Mosbuito such "cimaron"
cattle are found. And yet my eyes
fixed themselves obstinately upon this
stray animal. Surely, I thought, after
some minutes watch, there is something
wrong about this business those fore
legs seem strangely shaped, and his
movements!
The OK appeared to be walking, or
lounging, if the expression be admissi-
BILE, in ciscle; breathlessly 1 waited
till the off-side came under my sight.
Slowly and carslessly he moved on,
grazing here, and doing there, but al
ways circling round. Ha i! we'll might
they seem odd, those fore-legs A man
was walking behind the off-shoulder,
with one hand on the near horn, and a
gun in the other. The docile animal
circled nearer and nearer to the herd,
which regarded him suspiciously, but
made no movement. I felt sure that
he was as much interested in the event
as the best-bred retriever in English
turnip fields.
A long half-hour waited. The bucks
tossed their heads impatiently, and
stamped their little hoofs, but the does
had apparently no suspicion, and most
ly lay down again. BY an accident,
which I blessed fervently, the hunter
chose his range at point just opposite
to me. could have shouted with de-
light when saw the long barrel-paint-
ed with black gum, that it might not
sparkle-pushed over the ox's back. A
jet of fire, pale in the brilliant sun
shine, shot forth, and the noblest deer
in the herd leaped high into the air.
Down the savanna they came headlong,
rolling one another over in the panic.
With head thrown back, and fore-legs
gathered beneath him, fine buck led
the way; at fifty yards from me they
had disappeared under the trees--but
led by another monarch. The bravest
of their bucks lay prone upon the
grass!
I turned, while reloading, to look for
my brother sportsman. Behold his
wondrous OK had developed new ac-
complishment! Seeit now careering over
the savanna like Derby crack, bearing
its master in safety to the hills! Loud
and long l whooped in my finest jungle
falsetto, before the hero would heed,
but at half a miles distance he pulled
up and turned to look at me. 1 made
the most impressive signals fancy could
suggest, or memory recall from long
forgotten ballets. I advanced with
arms delicately outspread, patted my
chest, and pointed to heaven-upon my
honor I had great thoughts of pirouet.
ting one leg, and kissing each hand
alternately to him. These e1ertions
we're rewarded at last, as we'll they de.
served to be. After loading his long
"gas-pipe with most significant care,
the hunter. trotted toward me; I laid
down my rifle, unbuttoning, however,
the pistol-holst,r on my hip. and sd-
vanced. Wary, indeed, are the greet
ings upon those burnt hills by the
MicO.
"Buenos dias, caballero," drawled
the hunter, with his thumb on the ham,
mer OF his piece, and his finger on the
] trigger.