The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-02-25
TURN ABOUT WAS FAIR PLAY
REWARD TO a COSTA RIGA HUyTFB
FOR HUMANITY Snowy DOC.

amer Hs Hss R.se--d the Anir,ai rro-- |.
Itvine Desth the Beast Reeiprocatsd ~
| wsrnine Hirr OF y Ferociou- Puua.
II once had n wonderful puma hunt when I
| was in Costa Rica." eaidth Colonel, and N IA
| hadn't teeh for my dog l wouldn't be hero TO
tell about It. On the contrary. I would have
| been mince meat in the nav OF one Of tho
biggest Central American lions that's puma
| that ever tried his claws and teeth on A
| hunter. And let me say right here. mover 20
back on your dog. II he gets hurt in hunt al A
can't get along himself. carry him. no matter
how much he weighs or course IN " this
country there amt any ants that would eat
dog or man alivs. like there are down in the
Costa Rica forests. and your bears and wild
cats might let up on him but. for all that don't
leays him wounded in the woods IL | had leit
my dog on this occasion he'd have been eaten
up by ants and I'd have been eaten by n puma
Nothing surer.
Right here I'd bettcr tell you about thi,
cheerful Costa Rican ant. 1t Is about AS big a,
a wasp. and looks something like wasp. only
IL has no wings. II IL as red as a brick. AMI
its Jaws are made to get into things quick.
These ants are so strong that I have seen hall
n dozen OF them seize a rat and drag it away
as easily as one OF your ordinary black ants
would walk of with one OF its own eggs The
rat was dead, Of course. but It wouldn't
have made much difference to the ants IL he
had been alive. They would have tackled
him Just the same. and wouldn't have given
much for his chances Of escape.
These ants build nests that are som shines
four feet high and ten feet in diameter. and
there will be untold thousands OF them in q
single nest A wounded puma or jagunr would
not fear any number OF hunters but would
fight them with unabated fury. But let either
q puma or iaguar. lying wounded. see tho
dreaded stream OF red ants pouring toward II,
the animal. fierce as IL is. will cover In terror
and utter such cries as no hunter or dog
could ever provoke from It These tor
rlble Insects seem to scent their prey
like the vulture. Not an ant nest may be seen
for miles. yet let a wounded beast fall in the
forest. or among the dense reeds or treacher-
Gus swamps OF Costa Rics. and soon It will bs
covered by su oh swarms Of ants that no part
OF its helpless body may be seen. They tear
and pluck away their victims flesh raven ously.
and yet the animal may lie for hours. suffering
the untold torture Of It before Death comes to
its relief
THE day went out on this puma hunt the
weather was quite comfortable for Costa Rica.
the Thermometer showing a temperature OF
only 1120 in the shade; but In the sun II was
triHe wearing. With no companion but my
dog started out to track puma to his lair. or
rout him out from his lurking place In tho
jungle. must have gone two miles or more
from the coffee farmers house where was
stopping before my dog struck trail. and
away he went giving voice to the curious bark
peculiar TO the native Costa Hican dogs-a bark
which must be taught them as one teaches .
parrot to talk-because the dogs Of that coun-
try nre naturally voiceless
1T was u tedious tramp through the dense
reeds and beneath the scorching sun. but for
two miles / followed the dogs wake in the jun
lt ha.h has lnna aaH ntIH NJ ri
In his chase Of The puma. At last. what was
my establishment not to say horror. to hear
The cry rsidly came nearer. aud then sud.
denly changed tor distressed yelping and a
that my dog and the puma had come TO:
gether. But how came they In my rear
strange Situation n' The crafty pune. haS
made detour and gradually worked his way
hack 70 the trail behind me; and while was
and rapidly, with tho dog. OF course.
still behind him. ! hurried back to have, a
dogs yelps had become but plaintive whining.
lying. among the reeds. dreadfuIiy torn in both
shoulders. where the great paws Of the puma
had disappeared in the forest.
ALTHOUGH the dog ", was helpless from his
cided what to do with him. I knew that III
elt him there he would soon be attacked BY
ahe Thought OF leaving him to such Wrete i
tate. yet how could carry him home. through
miles OF painless forest. jungle. and swamp;
he dog suddenly dfagged himself by q great
effort toward mo. whining piteousy and with
Then saw w the sdSanes suarG
u that awful rcd line OF devouring. ants
brute; I hesitated no longer. UntyinG the
broad sash from my loins the sash every body
hung the dog in IT, flung it over my shouder.
md Ned from the spot as speedily as l could.
'ure Of my bsarlpgs but i trudsed along. AZ
Inn s It seem .n ed that ! must drop my burden:
SId,. ihss ssi.5 S TS1S
crest to be eaten alive with ants. dragged
Ilong through the forest, aud at last the dog
wist himself around and growL Once
punched him with my elbow and babe him
he added pain the blow gave him. and then
'athsrlng himself up In the scarf uttered
nsTs s
ng OF that cry, Like flash the situation came
ss .sEeed ..gnE q S0 the ten E H
" track again. could not see the beast, but
notion, The puma bounded away into the
rnGls. and knew had not hit him. hur-
ounded an other warning, The puma was still
missed. A few PAGES further on was the edge
= great expanse OF swamp and dense reeds
seyond that knew. lay the river. and once
here would be In sight OF our plantation.
tut II was a good hali-hour's tramD across
hose tangled reeds and uncertain swamp. I
ould not see SO lar as three feet In any
Erection. We had travelled perhaps ten
minutes on this dangerous area when for the
bird time my watchful but hel piess dog warned
ne. The reeds were bending and swAying
q! couple OF rods behind me and crashing
efore the bounds OF the pursuing puma.
'hieh had evidently made up is mind to set
10 the chase then and there fired into the
IAvinR weeds This time the puma did not
onnd away The eommotion came nearer
nd nearer, until at last. not ten feet away.
etween an opening made In the reeds by
nd flaming ewes OF the puma, I fired
!, the In, marx eIhs puma bounded fer
reat paws struck on my chest. I went down
ndsr the force OF the blow crushing cruelty
~ faithful dog beneath me. But the puma
ever moved again: great hole between the
Did the reason why Halt an hour later was
ONE. exhausted. footsOre and almost dead
rom heat. But was safe, had rescued nv
DOR. wounded dog from the ants. and he had