The morning call., 1890-05-20
THE JAGUAR HUNT.

HERE were five hunters-the mulatto
XXX TiburciO. peon from the Chagra ha-
SEsA cienda, Lucas, Jose, Braulio and /.
0@Ao We all had rifles, though those car
ried by Tiburcio and Lucas were flintlocks
most excellent, of course, according to
their owners. Jose and Braulo carried
lances also, with the blades very carefully
and firmly set in the handles.
Not a single available dog stayed at home ;
leashed two and two, they swelied our ex-
petition, whining with pleasure Even the
pet of Marta, the cook, PalonIo, whom the
very hares knew to be stone-blind, offered
his neck to be counted among the able
bodied dogs; but Jose sent him away with
a zumba followed by some notifying re-
proaches. Lusa and the girls stayed be-
hind rather anxious, especially Iransito,
who well knew that her betrothed was
going to run the greatest risk, since his
81 ecial fitness for the most dangerous post
in the hunt was indisputable.
Pursuing a narrow and difficult path we
began to go up the north bank of the river.
Its sloping channel-if such could be called
the wooded bottom of the gorge, spotted
with rocks upon whose summit, as upon
the roof OF house, grew cured ferns and
reeds with Towering climbing plants
twisted about them-was obstructed at in
tervalS with enormous powders, between
which the currents rushed swiftly, whit
ened with whlrlpoolS and fantastic shapes
of foam.
We had gone little more than half
league when Jose, pausing by the mouth
of a broad chasm, dry and walled in by
cliffs, scrutinized some badly gnawed bones
OF lamb which had been thrown out the
day before as bait to the fierce animal.
With Braulo in advance, Jose and | went
into the chasm up which the tracks led
Braullo, alter going on about 100 yards,
paused, and, without looking at US, mo-
toned TO us to stop. He listened TO the
murnurs Of the forest, filled his chest with
all the air it could possibly contain, looked
up at the high arch formed above US by
the cedars and then went on with slow
and noiseleSs steps. After a moment he
paused again, went through careful eX-
animation as before, and pointing out 10
us the scratches on the trunk of Tree
growing out of the bottom of the chVsm,
said to us, after fresh study of the tracks,
HE went up there. It's easy to see he's
full of meat and drink"
The chasm came to an end twenty yards
furt her on ina sharp wall, over the Shout
der of which, we inferred from the hol-
lowed place at its foot, the torrents poured
in the rainy season. Against my advice
we went back to the river and kept on up
its course. in little while Braulio found
the tracks of the jaguar on the shingle this
time going down to the edge Of the water.
We must ind out If the beast had gone
across the river, or if, as was most prob
able, hindered by the current, here very
heavy and swift, he had kept on up the
river along the bank where we were.
BrauliO strapped his rifle to his back and
waded across the stream; he had attached a
rope to his belt, and Jose held the end of it
so as TO prevent false step from causing
his nephew to plunge over the cascade just
ut hand. We maintained a profound ST.
lence, REFRESHING the impatient whining of
the dogs and guarding our footsteps care
fully as we advanced.
Not q track here" said Braulio, after
examining the sand and the thicket Just
then he stood up, about to return to u.s.
and, posing himself on the top of a rock
motioned us to be quiet. He seized his
rife, threw it to his shoulder, aimed as if
TO shoot at something among the rocks at
our side, leaned lightly forward, cool, col
lected and quiet and fired deliberately
There he is" he shouted, pointing to the
bushes growing among The rocks, into which
VIC could not see; then he leaped down to
the waters edge and added
Keep the rope tautl Let the dogs 90 up
there!"
The dogs seemed to understand what had
happened. Scarcely had we loosed them
when they disappeared in the gorges at our
right, While Jose was helping Brauio. as
he gained the bank; while he was hurriedy
loading his rifle, he added. seeing me:
GU come with me, young master"
The dogs were already close on the prey,
and it seemed as if the brute we're not find
ing 1t easy to get away, since the barking
all came from one point. Braulio took a
lance from Jose's hand, saying to us two:
You 60 above and below to guard this
pass, for the laguar will double on his trail
# he gets away from us where he is.
1fburcio will stay with you"
Then he said to Lucas: 1--WE two will 90
round and come out on top of the hill"
With his usual sweet smile, and with the
coolest manner, lie finished loading his rifle.
It's dear little cat, and / hit him."
AS lie said this we separated. Jose, Thur
clio and l climbed upon a convenient rock.
IlburcI0 kept looking at the printing of his
rifle. JUse was all eyes. From where we
were we could see all that was happening
on the hill, and could guard the pass as
requested, for there were but few trees
intervening. though they were large ones.
vi the SIX dogs two were already hOrs de
combat; one OF them lying mangled at the
feet Of the fierce animal; the other, with
entrails protrudlng between broken ribs,
had come to find us, and giving forth the
most heart-rendiDg cries, died at the foot of
the rock upon which we had climbed.
With his side turned to a clump of oaks his
tail playing about like serpent, his back
erect. his eyes flaming and his teeth barred,
the Jaguar was utterng hOarse cries, and
as he threw his enormous head about, his
ears made noise something like casta-
nets. AS he turned about, worried by the
dogs, who were not much injured although
not wholly unframed, We could see that his
left flank was bleeding; he tried to lick il
from time TO time, but this only gave the
pack an advantage in rushing at him.
Brauil0 and Lucas appeared, emerging
from the gorge and coming out upon the
hill, though little farther from the brute
than we were; Lucas was livid. There was
thus triangle formed by the hunters and
their game, so that both groups could fire
at the same time without danger of iniur-
ing each other
Lets all fire togetherp shouted Jose.
mo, no; We'll hit the dogsi' replied
BraulO Then he left his companion and
was lost to our sight.
l thought that general volley would end
the matter, but 1t was almost certain that
some Of the dogs would be killed. and if, by
any chance, the jaguar should not be fin
ished, it would be easy for him to play the
mischief with us If all our weapons were
discharged.
Suddenly Braulio's head appeared, rising
out OF the gorge, little behind the trees
winch protected the jaguar in the rear; his
mouth was half opened with his painting,
ms eyes were dllated, his hair was flying.
In his right hand he carried the couched
lance, and with his left he was pushing
away the twigs.
At last Jose shouted: Eat himl KiIl-lion.
at him! Bitter, Stranger, at himp'
IL would not do to give the jaguar
breathing spell; and setting on the dogs
would make Braulio's risk smaller. Tie
dogs renewed their attack all together Zone
more OF them fell dead without sound.
The Jaguar gave horrible yell. Braulio
was seen behind the clump of oaks nearer
to us, grasping the handle of the lance,
from. which the blade had been broken
The brute swung around In search of MIN.
He shouted, "Firei freI" and leaped back
at single bound to the place where he had
lost his lance-head. The jaguar followed
him. Lucas had disappeared. Tiburcio
turned olive color; he leveled and pulled
the trigger; his gun flashed in the pan.
Jose fired. The jaguar roared and bit at
his flank again, and then sprang in pursuit
of Braulio. The latter turned his course
behind the oaks. and flung himself toward
us to pick up the lance thrown to him by
Jose.
The beast was square in front OF us.
My rifle alone was available.
/ fired. The jaguar sank backward,
reeled and fell.