The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1894-03-09
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.
Forest and Stream.

parts induced me to turn my back on
"The Land O Cakes" my footsteps
turned toward Demaria, or more prop
erly British Guiana, in South Amer
lea. Arrived at the colony, my natu-
raj inquiries turned to the fishing and
hunting to be had. The great indus
try OF this country is suyar-making,
and the plantations Iun for miles
along the banksOf the great rivers
and along the coast line, but hardly
ever arc found back from the water
front. The reason of this is that the
land, for several hundred miles from
the coast, is low-lying, alluvial jungle,
subject to overflow at any time, hence
enormous embankmcnts along the
water fronts constitute the only
roads of Importance. The plantations
generally run back from the water in
long, narrow strips, some of them cX-
tending deep into the jungle. The
system Of drainage employed necessi-
tatcs large canals, or side lines, as
they are locally called, which run the
length of the plantations on either
side, and form dividing line between
the cane fields and the almost impen-
ctrable woods. Across the canals,
late in the evening, the deer come to
eat the young sugar cane, of which
they destroy quite quantity, and it
was at such place that ! found my
self, with several others, impatientlY
waiting for shot.
Our mode of procedure was to string
ourselves out 100 yards apart along
the canal and on the field side of it,
and as the deer crossed over shoot
them down. 1t was not very sports
manlikc, but it was about the only
way that yenlson could be got, for to
follow the deer through the mass OF
tropical vines that constitute the un-
dergrowth of the woods was ont Of
the question. | had taken my stand
one afternoon at point where the
ovcrhanging limb of an enormous
mango tree reached across the canal
and above my head. l had laid my
rifle down carclessly on the ground to
my right, thinking | would have
plenty of time to move it to my left
shoulder, from which l shoot, and
little thinking how important this
casual action was afterward to become
to me.
AS sunset approached l could hear
deer or other animals moving in the
jungle, but as often as they came near
where was / could hear them dash
Off as if in mortal dread. This was
repeated several times, so concluding
that l was not sufficiently concealed,
and that my chances for meat were
slim, and as the darkness would soon
follow the few minutes of twilight of
the tropics, prepared to get up from
my uncomfortable position, prone on
my stomach, and to start for our
horses.
At my first movement was startled
by a low, purrng growl, that seemed
to be right by me. ! gixvd intently
across the canal. but could see moth.
ing. Again | made slight move
mcnt, and again the warnig grOwl
sounded in my ears. Up the canal
and down the canal l cast careful
glances, but nothing was in sight on
the well-cleaned banks. Suddenly
the recollection of the limb of the
mango tree, extended above my head,
flashed on my mind, and carefully
turning my head without moving my
body any more than | could help, l
glanced upward. What was my horror
to see almost Immediately over my
head and crouched low down to the
limb, an enormous puma or South
American lion, whose fiery eyes were
fixed intently on me, and whose long
tail was jerking backward and for
ward in that spasmodic way that in
dcated that he was about to spring.
After a moments thought the gravity
Of the position seemed to steady my
nerves, for | can well remember, even
after lapse of many years, the train
of thought that flashed across my
mind. 1t was something in this line ::
Here is puma, which, like the Scotch
man under the tree, has come out to
get some venison for supper, but owing
to the scent of the puma or the sight
OF the Scotchman the deer have con-
cluded not to eat any cane at this
point OF the canal; therefore, the
puma, being the hungrier of the
crowd, concludes that the moving
mass under him and partly hid by the
cane leaves, will do instead Of venison.
Now my gun Is on the wrong side for
shooting (as l can't see well in my
right cyc) and besides my position
prone on the ground makes shooting
overhead an impossibility. IfImoye
the puma will jump; and before l
regain a standing position my neck
will be cracked. What Is to be done
All this time Ut seemed an age to
mel l never moved my eyes from those
Of the puma, and ! noticed with some
satisfaction that Re occasionally y
closed his. My determination was
soon taken. Slowly l commenced to
turn on my back, one can hardly un-
derstand the pain II gave me 10 make
that slow turn, never for a moment