Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1891-08-07

ION =. we udu spCuV HS"iiy WV NO"'
in going, perhaps, as many miles, and
not having lately come across further
signs of our friend, Charlie Blake gave
it as his opinion that, if still alive he
had lost himself and was probably wan
dering in a circle somewhere in the
labyrlnthine depths, where the sum- his
only guide, could not penetrate.
"And, boys" he concluded, elf we
we do not find him before nightfall we
shall never see him in this world"
1t was DOW past four o'clock, and
already the gloom about us was sensibly
deepening, and prowliug beasts OF prey
began occasionally to cross our pain.
Joe Burke knocked over sinking wolf
and Frank Austin brought down Wild
cat from the top of lofty gum; bu:
neither of these shots brought hail or
shout from our absent friend.
We we're still advancing in to!erably
straight line, always keeping within
speaking distance Of each other, when
suddenly we broke out of the dark for
est into a large, treeless savanna, where
the sun shone gloriously and the rank
orass was breast high. Immediately on
reaching this, Hugh Kimball called out
~ say, boys, something has passed
here not long ago. Look at this narrow
path where the grass has been parted"
We all hurried to tie spot, and Blake
at once said:
"Wero on Toms track, sure enough!
You see the trail is widest at top, where
as if made by wild beast crawling
along, it would be widest at the bot
TOM"
We DOW fred three shots in rapid sue
ccssion, and, after waiting moment,
were about to shoot again, when Austin
held up his hand with "Whisht" and
each one strained his ears to listen. Yes;
there was no mistaking it; far away to-
ward the declining sun came faint hal
loo, once, twice, thrice repeated, and
five lusty throats sent up c!eer alter
cheer as we realized the joyful fact that
our comrade was indeed found.
Dashing along, now wading, tearing,
scrambling through the long, why stems
IS best We could, we made our way for
a half.mile, seeing nothing as yet but
ever more distinctly hearing the same
"IIallool Halloo. HallOo" always
promptly answered by our own encour-
aging shouts. At last we caught sight
of broad sombrero and the shoulders
Of man above the tall herbage, backing
slowly toward us.
"Husb, boys, hush" cautioned Char
lie Blake, "there's something unusual
here and, being now within easy
speaking distance, he softly hailed
Grant, and asked: "What is up, Tom"
The young fellow never turned his
head, but, while his light arm seemed
to be gently moving up and down, and
strange, flashing, dazzling CLEANS Of
binding light played ftfully be-
yond him, answered in Il curiously re-
strained voice:
''Boys, there's laundering big jag
uar following me up, not twenty feet
away. I've been standing him off for
the last half-hour by flashing the rays
from my pocket-mirror in his eyes, but
he's getting used to the game now, and
you've got here Just in time. Don't let
us lose him. One of you come slowly
up straight behind me, and the other
four sweep around and get in rear OF he
brute, but don't waste moment, for ne
begins to look mighty ugly"
AS we heard Toms startling explana-
ton, thrill of hardly reprc5se1 excite
ment ran through the little party. Frank
Austin, carrying his own and his chum'S
rife. and the rest of us made detour
and crept, silently as possible, through
the grass until we reached point di-
rectly in line with the actors in this
singular drama Then we rose to our
feet, and, peering over the top OF the
rank growth, saw a most curious sight,
indeed. Crouching low and creeping
s:ealthily along, was a fuli-grown and
beautifully spotted jaguar, while, few
yards beyond him, Tom, gradually back
ing away, held between his fingers
common little mirror, such as prospec-
tors carry, and, as he faced the sun, con
tinualy flashed the reflected rays into
the eyes OF the brute, who, on each re-
petition OF the trick, recoiled in momen-
tary terror, snarling aud showing his
great faugs and then resuming his course
until again checked in the same way.
The hungry, bloodthirsty monster was
so intent upon his expected prey, an1, /
suppose, so puzzled by the extraordinary
&c rense, that he appeared to have eyes
and ears for nothing else, and it was
only when our simultaneously raised gun
hammers came into full position with a
sharp click that he turned his head ana
saw us. Then, the spell OF his absorb
ing pursuit being broken, he gave a
hoarse, savage cry of rage or fear, and
for Que hali-second standing at bay,
seemed undecided whether to fight or
( Hy.
That instant sealed his fate -Four rifles