The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-04-14

up and f2St asleep. An, nov luxup<Q i. l ran out tn the court to call help. Luck fly. our man, Joe, was there, and he killed 1t. But as we cleared more acres the snakes Jeff us to hide in the forest began to hope our cares were ended, but they were only just begun. Wild beasts nov frss appeared on the scene
 -One morning, just as we were al brezkfass, one of our herdsmen brought the news that our cattle, which grAzed in the tall grass on the other side ofthe nver, had been attacked by jaguar that had killed one of the bulls The man who told us escaped with his life, yet he vcsli have scarcely done SO if he had not nis- led the beasi, or had there not been a fat ox there.
 A week passed without new alarm. and ve had come to think less about IL when suddenly three or four Indians rushed to tel us how great Jaguar had broken into their camp. and killed wo- man and one of their dogs. When my husband heard the story he concluded that 1t gas the same animal that had at- lacked our bull, for the Indians described tas creature of singular color, far lighter than any they had seen about there, 90 that they named 1t The White Death We all thought it now time to do something, and my husband called his people together 10 go out and hunt l 1t.
 remember that morning distinctly. They went away oheerfully enough. each man with his gun and hunting g-kniie, and Moro. the bloodhound, was with them. My husband turned>Spund jus, as he en- tered the wood and Rissed his hand to me then they vanished in the forest
 When found myself with Lolita alone in the house, and though, of what migh, happen if they met that terrible wild animal, such anxiety seized me (although l never thought could be in danger that could not be oontented till had locked every door in the house; and then l seated myself in the grea, sitting g-room. took Lolita on my lap, and tired to ,eil her a story.
 Suddenly heard scratching along the root. and then dull thad. as if some thing heavy had fallen: Anxious and nervous as was, l started up with a cry. although had no presen;.ment wha, It was. The nexi moment heard jus; over me sound which could no, mistake
 
 from the woods al night. ard never with out feeling as if my heart stood s,ili. The thought rushed through my mind. -. Heaven. the laguar.
 shall never forget that momen, : One minute was quite r:s.d and help less. IS If life had departed. and then 4 thought flashed upon me; the laguar wss no; to De kep; CT If he penetrated here i from the roof. for mos, of the inner door ways h. esiy dFaperles. h my dining room Was . great wooden meal-Chest nearly empty and large enough 10 hold six or seven persons n once. Ii Lolita and could get there. theash:: L we are saved.
 - seze& the Cfld r4n with her into i the diains-foom, and eleu. into he hes. A nfortuna;e., :; had spr.ns-lack. so Eha, was forced to hold the Id open ai;h my left hand. ,o guard aSains, i.s locking and immedla;c.y s;trilre .s bu, !: had more than az inch o.od:er riut. ~htrh completely hid nl fingers.
 l. was ne; moment toa soon Ne were scarcely hidden. when heard the great claws sCfs.l-hng along he floor and the hungry shifting ot inc Jaguar showed ne that he MAS n search 0; food. He came straight to the chest. and aused a moment, as If he feared trap. Then he put his head close to the small open ing so that l could feel his ho, breath He sniffcd a while and then tried 10 raise the lid with his paw.
 How ,remblcd. Bat. thank God the great paw would no, go IT the narrow crevice and 1 held the cover Ia. |, clingiug to the inner part of the i, ,ch with all he strength of desperation All he could do was 10 stretch oai his tongue and lick my fingers Cn,l they eled as | they had been scratched by saw. And then. as he tasted blood and heard Lol.ia 1 cry for my poor darling was ls, as fright ened as l sas>, his eagerness increased. and he began to make piercing yells, which sent icy chills over me
 | wonder why the frlgh, did TO, kill me; but the touch of Lolitas little arm around my neck seemed 70 keep up ,ny courage.
 1 Stlll the worst was ye, to come. Wlen the Jaguar found that he could TO; reach me from below he sprang upon the chest, His huge weigh, crushed my fingers be- tween the two parts of the lock. Then though; all was over. and shneked so that If rang through the whole house.
 But my cries were answered by a sound that made my heart ,hrob with Joy-ansxered by the barking of our bloodhood. The Jaguar heard it. too. for he sprang down. and stood mo- men, listening. then ran 10 the door as if to flee
 Again came the sound of the dogs 5ark-ihis time nearer-and at the same tune the voice. of men calling 10 esch other. Contrary 10 expectation. they were already coming back. Nearwhile the Jaguar seemed 10 be bewildered. and ran wildly 10 and fro. Suddenly loud cry came from one of the windoss. and ,hen two shots and fearful ho~l: ,hen my husband $ voice annousIy called
 ".CaChIt4- where are you /
 coaia iast gel oGt of the chest. drag myself 10 ;he doo.. and ie, my husband n. Then swooned away.
 e TheY ,ald me zf,erSard that CUT