The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-03-22

| JuSI dS Wo were UeSluuluS W ulVo u Alt-
tie peace from our other plaques, the
four-footed gentlemen began to come on
the stage at last. One morning, just Us
we were at breakfast, in came one OF
our vaqueros with news that our cattle,
while feeding among the long grass on
the other side of tho river, had been at
tackled by jaguer, and one of them
killed. The fellow who had brought the
news had had to run for his life, and
would hardly have escaped had there
not been fat OK ready at hand instead.
As it was, he looked SO thoroughly
frightened that it made us all rather
serious. However, q week passed with.
out any fresh alarm, and we were be-
ginning to get over it, when suddenly in
came three or four Indians in a great
furry to tell us that huge jaguar had
broken into their encampment, and
killed q woman and one of their dogs.
When my husband heard the story he
made sure that it was the same beast
that had fallen upon our cattle for they
described it as being of very strange
color, far lighter than any that had ever
been seen in those parts before, and
from that they had nicknamed it "The
Pale Death. So then we all thought it
full time to do something and my hus-
band called his men together to go out
and hunt it down.
I remember that morning well, though
it will be year ago the day after to-
morrow. Away they went merrily
enough, every man with his gun and
hunting knife, and Moro, the blood
hound, along with them. My husband
turned and kissed his hand to me Just
as they entered the wood, and then they
were gone!
When found myself all alone in the
house with Lolita, and thought of what
might happen if they met this horrible
beast, was so frightened that (although
I had no thought of any chance of dan
ger to myselD I wasn't satisfied till I
had shut and barred every door in the
house and then I came and sat down
in tho drawing room, and took Lolita in
my lap, and tried to tell her story.
Suddenly 1 heard q scraping along the
roof, and then dull thump like the fall
of something heavy! Anxious and ner-
vous as was, it gave me terrible start,
though little dreamt what it was. But
the next moment can Q q souLd just
overhead that I could not mistake-a
long hoarse roar, that had heard many
time in the forest at night, and never
heard without feeling my heart stand
still. Then the thought struck me-
"Oh, Heaven; the jaguar u
I shall never forget that moment Z!
For one minute was quite sick and
helpless, as if all the life had been struck
out of me at one blow; and then a
thought flashed upon me. There was
no keeping the jaguar out, for most of
the doorways were only hung with cur
tains; but in the storeroom close by
there was q huge wooden corn chest,
nearly empty, and big enough to hold
six or seven people at once. II Lolita
and 1 could only get in there we might
yet be saved!
I sratched up the child, ron with her
into the storeroom, and crouched down
in the chest. Unluckily it closed with
spring lock, so that I had to keep the
lid slightly open with my left hand, to
avoid being shut down and stitled out
right; but it had an overlapping edge
several inches long, which quite covered
my fiugers.
I was not moment too soon. Hard.
ly had got fairly settled in my hiding
place, when I heard the great claws
<craping the floor, and the hungry sniff
a. the iaguar questnd about in search of
food. He came straight to the chest,
and there stopped short moment, as if
suspectipg trap. Then he put his
h, ad close to the narrow opening, SO
that could feel his hot breath on my
face, snutfcd once or twice to satisfy
himself, a, d then tried to force the lid
up with his paw; but, thank God. the
great paw would not go into that little
chink
All he could do was to get his tongue
in and lick my fingers, making them
blead as if they had been rasped with a
saw. And then, what with the taste Of
blood, and what with hearing Lolita
crying inside, his fury was reused, aud
he began to roar, not an honest, deep
mouthed lion roar, but a sharp, snaring
yell, that made my blood run cold. Ugh
I can't think how I didn't die outright,
but the touch of Lolita's little arm,
clinging round my neck, seemed to give
me courage.
But the worst was still to come. Find
ing that he could not reach me from be-
low, he sprang on the top of the chest,
crushing my hand between the lid and
the upper edge. Then I thought all
WIS over, and gave scream that made
the whole house ring.
My scream was answered by a sound
that made my heart leap-the distant
cry of bloodhound! The jaguar heard
It, too, for he lcaped down and stood
listening moment, and then ran to the
door, as if to escape. There it was
again-much. nearer-and with it the
voices of men calling to each other.
They were coming back Meanwhile,
the jaguar seemed to get bewildered,
and, ran wildly up and down the inner
gallery.
Suddenly there came loud shout at
one of the windows. and then two shots
and o frightful yell and then my hus-
bands voice, strained to its loudcst
" Cachita! where are you2" I just
managed to crawl TO the door and let
him in, and then Ifainted outright.
They told me afterwards that our
bloodhound had struck the trail of the
jaguar leading straight toward the
house and then they all set off to run
like madmen, fearing some harm to me.
Ny husband and Jose distanced the rest,
and came up just in time to shoot the
beast through the window.
AS for my hand, it Was so crushed
that I couldn't stir a joint of it for weeks
after. The Indians doctored it for me,
and they tell me I shall have the use of
it again by-and-bye +; but I don't need
that to remind me of that day. If I
live thousand years, I shall never for
get it.