The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-05-03
Remarkable Bravery.

the bestyenr Of his life in Brazil,
who are indebted for the following
account, of an adventure with jug
tar in one of the dark and vast for
ests of that country.
Jaguars are generally about the
size of a large wolf, of II brownisll
yellow, with black circles and spots
along the upper parts, the skin
gradually sottening down to pale
yellow, and approaching to white
about the belly, legs and feet. They
steal upon their prey like the tiger,
which, in fierceness and strength,
they much resemble. They are
powerful enough to kill IL horse, an
OK, or u mule, and carry off or drag
away the dead body afterward.
Zone night" says our informant,
"as layencamped in n dense forest,
on the bank of one of the tributaries
of the amazon, with my guide and
four negro servants around me, |
was startled from my slumbers by
such II screeching and yelling as
pray Heaven l may never hear
again! dumped up with my ideas
all bewildcred and confused. My
campfire had pretty well gone down,
but was still light enough to show
me the black, shadowy forms of my
attendants, dancing and bowling
around me like SO many tiends.
"a soon as could shakemy senses
together IL little, let out my voice
to it's very highest pitch. and. in
stentorian tones, demanded the
cause of this nocturnal tumult.
"'A .iaguar, master! IL iuguar
among the mulcsE yelled every voice
in reply.
"'Well, if there were forty jaguars.
instead OF one, they might have been
scared into fits by this timcr returned
I; and SO cease your Internal ceilings.
and like reasonable human beings,
tell me NIL you know about it,
"My coolamlappalently unexcitcd
manner soon had the effect of calm
ing down the frightened wretcles to
n common-sense degree; and then |
learned there had been u great COM
motion among the mules-which
were tied so as to feed without escap-
ing, within short distance of the
fire-and this disturbance was SUP.
pose to proceed from the presence
the dreaded ,iaguar in their midst
though no one had seen him, and
none had possessed the courlg &c to
venture thither and ascertain.
Il lost no time in seeing that my
rifle, pistols and hunting knife were
in proper order; and then getting
my Indian guide, the least timid Of
the five, armed with his long lance,
bow and arrows, to keep by my side,
with II blazing brand. l moved eau
tiously forward to the place where
the mules were tied, the four negroes
keeping close at my heels, crouching
and trembling with terror.
''On reaclling the frightenedan animals
was any thing but pleased to find
that the suspicious of my servants
were correct, and that u valuable
Lnck-mule was among the missing.
There were broad traces ofblood and
II wide trail into some bushes, show
ing where he had been dragged away
by his fierce and powerful assailant.
was SO angry ut the daring of the
beast and my loss, that l should
have followed ON, perhaps to my
own destruction, had not Indian
guide takenh hold ofme, and clnplla tic.
ally declared was mad to think of
such a thing.
Don't you hear the beast growl-
ing over the carcass. master?' he
said; and do you think that now,
when he can see 80 much better than
you, that he will let you approach
him and return alive?'
"'And am to let the audacious
scoundrel escape, and he within reacl,
of as good Il rife ball as ever let out
the hearts blood of his race" was
my angry reply, as halted and list
ened to his ravenous srarls and
growls.
"Iet us hunt him tomorrow,
master, when we can do it with so
much less risk, returned the Indian.
My friend, Cotantin, IL great hunter,
lives within n few leagues ofhere, and
with his dogs and experienced at
tendants he will make sure of him.
"a minutes reflection convinced
me there was nothing better to
he done. for to attack the animal
now, in the dark. was to give him all
the advantage; and SO smotllercd
down my anger as well us | could,
and passed u weary night in keeping
watch around the fire, not one OF nv
party venturing to again close his
eyes in sleep.
"At the first blush of day l dis.
patched my guide in quest of his