The morning call., 1890-05-20

Braulio looked back instinctively to learn
the effect of the last shot. Jose, Tiburcio
and / were all near him by that time, and
together We gave wild shout OF triumph
that echoed through the forest.
The mouth of the brute was filled with
bloody foam, his eyes were heavy and mo-
tlonless, and in the last agony of death he
conyulSlyely stretched out his Quiyering
legs and whipped the leaves with his beauti-
full tail.
Good shot!-what shotW exclaimed
Braulio, as he put his foot on the animals
neck. Right through the forehead.
There's steady hand for YOU"
Jose, with rather unsteady voice (the
poor fellow was thinking of his daughter),
called out, wiping The sweat off his face
with the flap of his shirt:
Well, well, what n fat one; what an
animal! l can kick you now and you never
know it,"
Then he looked sadly at the bodies of his
shes the one I'm most sorry for-what a
beauty she wasi'
Then he caressed the others, which were
! painting and gaspirg with protruding
tongues, as if they had only been running a
| stubborn calf into the corral.
Jose held out to me his clean handker-
chief, saying:
:" Sit down, my boy. We must get that
skin off carefully. for it's yours"
Then he called, " Lucas!"
Braulio gave great laugh, and finally
said; 4" BY this time he's safe hidden in the
hen-house down home"
"Oh, the cowardly scoundrelv
Then he went down by tue river and
shouted till the mountains echoed his voice
Lucas, you rogue!
I've got good knife here to skin him
with" said Iiburci0, extending it in his
hand.
No, man, it isn't that, but that wretch
was carrying our lunch, and this boy wants
something to eat; and so DO /, but don't
see any prospect of much hereabouts."
But, in fact, the desired hamper was the
very thing which marked the spot whence
the fellow had fled rs he dropped it. Jose
brought 1t to us rejoicing, and proceeded
to open it, meanwhile ordering Tiburcio to
I'LL our cups with water from the river.
The food was white and violet green-corn,
fresh cheese, and nicely roasted meat; all
this was wrapped up in banana leaves.
linen there appeared, in addition, bottle
OF wine rolled III a napkin. bread, cherries
and dried figs. These last articles Jose put
carefully to one side, saying, as he did so:
That's separate account"
The huge knives came out of their
sheaths. Jose cut up the meat for US, and
this, with the corn, made dish fit for a
| king. We drank the wine. made havoc
with the bread and flushed the figs and
cherries, which were more to the taste of
my companions than to mine. Corn cake
was not lacking, that pleasant companion
Of che traveller, the hunter and the poor
man. The water was delicious, ice cold
My best cigars ended the rustic banquet in
the woods.
Jose was in fine spirits, and Braulio had
ventured to call me padrino. With Won
deIful deXterlty 1iburci0 tlayed the jaguar,
carefully taking out all the tat, which,
they say, is excellent for l don't know
what not.
After getting the jaguar's skin, with his
head iaut h,tn lac
we set out on our return TO Jose's cabin.
lie took my rife on the same shoulder
with his own, and went on ahead, calling
the dogs.
or course the women had been counting
and recountIng US from the moment we
came in sight, and they were wayering be-
tween alarm and joy.
1t was Transito who came forward to
welcome us, and she was perceptlbly pale
from fear and anxiety.
Did you kill him ?" she called.
Yes, my daughter" replied the father
They all surrounded us, even old Marta,
who had in her hands a half-plucked
capon. Lucia came up to ask Inc about
my rifle, and us | was showing 1t to her
she added, in low, tender voice meant
only for my ear, There was no accident,
was there?"
None whatever" l answered, affection
ately tapping her lips with twis l mad in
my hand.
'Oh. was thinking"
Hasn't That ridiculous Lucas came down
this way p asked Jose, petulanUy.
Nor he, !" replied Marta.
Jose muttered curse.
But where is what you killed?" finally
asked Luisa.
Here, aunt" answered Braulio, and
with the aid of his betrothed began to
undo the bundle, saying something to the
girl which L could not hear. She looked at
me in very strange way, and brought out
OF the house little bench for me, upon
which sat and looked on. As soon as the
large and velty skin had been spread out
in the courtyard, the woman gave cry :;
but when the ihead rolled upon the grass
they were almost beside themselves
Why, how did you kill him? Tell u.s."
said Luisa All looked a little frightened
Then Jose, taking the head of the jaguar
in his hands, said: The iaguar was just
going to kill Braulio when the senior gave
him his ball" He pointed to the hole in
the forehead. All looked at me with ap-
prOval, and in each one of those glances
there was recompense enough for an action
WHICH really deserved none.-From Ma
ria,' by j. 1saacs.