Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1891-09-04

! but he's getting used to the game now,
and you've got here just in time. Don't
! let us lose himl One of you come slow
| ly up straight behind me, and the other
four sweep around and get in rear of
the brute, but don't waste a moment,
for he begins to look mighty ugly
As we heard Toms startling explana-
ton, a thrill of hardly repressed ex-
citement ran through the little party.
Frank Austin, carrying his own and
his chums rifle, advanced cautiously
toward him, and the rest of us made
| detour and crept, silently as possible,
through the grass until we reached q
point directly in line with the actors in
this singular drama. Then we rose to
our feet, and, peering over the toy of
the rank growth, saw most curious
sight, indeed. Crouching low on his
belly and creeping stealthily along lay
a full-grown and beautifully spotted
jaguar while, few yards beyond him,
Tom, gradually backing away, held be-
tween his fingers common little mir
ror, such as prospectors carry, and, as
he faced the sun, continually flashed
the reflected rays into the eyes of the
brute, who, on each repetition of the
trick, recoiled in momentary terror,
snarling and showing his great fangs,
and then resuming his course until
again checked in the same way. The
hungry, bloodthirrty monster was SO
intent upon his expected prey, and, l
suppose, so puzzled by the extraordi-
nary defense, that he appeared to have
eyes and ears for nothing else, and it
was only when our simultaneously
raised gun hammers came into full po-
sition with sharp click that he turned
his head and saw us. Then, the spell
OF his absorbing pursuit being brol1aal,
he gave hoarse, savage cry OF rage
or fear. and for one-half second, stand
ing at bay, seemed undecided whether
TO fight or fly.
That instant sealed his fate. Four
rifles cracked together and each one
sent a heavy conical bullet crashing
through his huge, round skull, and
without SO much as tremor he sank
stone dead TO the ground. With n
shout Of triumph we brushed past the
carcass and rushed over to Tom, who,
now that the fearful tension was re-
laxed, had dropped-and little wonder
-inscnsiblc into Frank Austin's arms.
Tom, however, was made of good stuff
and .soon revived, when, after empty
ing the contents of two or three water
TASKS down his parched throat, he told
the story of his unprecedented adven-
ture in n few words.
"When you fellows lay down to
sleep" said he, 81 took my net and set
out for little hunt, intending TO be
back by the time you should awake,
but met with such success that went
on and on TO the edge OF this savanna
and then across IL nearly TO the
further side. | heard all your shots.
but OF course you did not hear me
shout In return until you got into the
open.
81 secured lots OF rare specimens
here. and had just picked up fine
scarlet beetle when / noticed little
way Off n slowly advancing, trembling
wave in the long grass, as IL some mon
strous serpent were crawling through
It, ! at first supposed that this really
was the case and stood carefully
watching, prepared for n run. But
very quickly found that retreat was out
OF the question when in n minute or so
/ caught n glimpse of this dangerous
beasts head as he wormcd himself fiat
along the ground, and am not
ashamed 20 confess that fairly shook
with fright Mt the sight, being as you
know, utterly unarmcd.
81 had read somewhere that beasts OF
prey will fly at the sound of the human
voice; and so tried 10 frightcn this
fellow OFT by series Of wild yclls
"Pcrhaps he did not recognize these
as human ut all; but, anyhow. he did
not scare worth cent. On the con
tray he crcpt steadily on until within
fifteen feet, when he bumped up his
back and his horrible green eyes
plowcd like emerald flames as he evil
IDENTIFY made ready 10 pouncc upon me.
had now scarcely "A hope OF escape,
but n sort OF mcrciful numbncss came
over my senses. and ! did not much
seem 10 care
at appears almost miraculous. but at
this moment, in my half-uncon scious
state, expecting instant death, hap
pcncd 20 think OF one Of our schoolboy
games, and-why | hardly knew
jcrlted this tiny mirror from my vest
pocket, and, standing with my own face
TO the sun, flashed the focused light
into the jaguar's eyes; and, 10 my great
delight and astonishmcnt, the surprised
brute, at n single bound sprang fully
twenty feet TO cne side. Then, finding
that he was not hurt, he came on again
TO be scared time after time In the same
manner So. for over half nm hour, the
strange fight was kept up, ], with my
face always 10 the sun, backing toward
camp and he pcrsistently following and
gradually getting more and more bold
as he became accustomed 10 the trick.
could plainly see, just ns you came
up, that IA catastrophe was imminent,
and have no doubt that, If you had
been ten minutes later. | should have
pcrished. But alrs well that ends
well. and we shall have this magniii-
cent pclt W add 10 our collection. w.
Thompson, In n. Y. Ledger
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Hr Had.