The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-08-06

tended eyes, straining frantically back
ward on his tether, as if bound to break
away. Surprising that he, thus left
alone, was merely alarmed by the omin.
Gus weather signs, cheerily called
out:
"Whoa, Pete! Whoa, good fellow; it's
all right"
On hearing my voice, the sagacious
beast ceased to pull, and' stood quietly,
though still gazing intently ahead, and
trembling in every limb. Obviously
something more serious than the COM
ing shower had scared him.
Peering about to ascertain the cause
of his fear, I presently caught sight Of
two LUMINOSITY shining balls in the
edge Of the brushwood, scarcely 20
feet beyond him, and behind these I
could now dimly see the sinuous, slow
creeping form Of an immense jaguar,
who: was evidently bent upon making
an easily won msal of poor Pete. fast
bound between himself and me.
Unfortunately was fully 80 feet
away from and on the wrong side of tho
terrified beast on whose saddle hung my
precious rifle. No use making q rush
for it. Ell tigre (as the native Hondurian
callssthejaguar) could reach his, expect
ed prey. in q single bound; for which he
was already crouching. Hurriedly
thrusting hand behind me to draw my
revolver, it came in contact with an
empty holster. The pistol was gone,
doubtless jerked out while I was SHOW.
ing myself, feet foremost, through
some vine-bound aperture, too narrow
to at once admit my shoulders, and. pre-
occupied by other matters, I had never
missed it.
So there was, armed only with .
two-pound OK and a hunting-knife, face
to face with q full-grown male jaguar.
by far the largest and most ferocious OF
all American felidae, beast compared
to which the so-called mountain lion
(puma) is q mere kitten.
There was no time for deliberation.
Knowing the generally cowardly ma
ture of the brute, uttered a series Of
yells, any one Of which would certainly
have demoralized q human enemy who
had an ear for music, and started t.
ward the mule. hoping to save him from
the attack. But the great cat, with all
its bloody instincts aroused, did not
scare worth q cent. Before had covered
one-half of the 30 yards, it sprang
harshly screaming. into the air, and,
with outstretched talons and cleaning
fangs, would have descended fairly
upon old Pete's back. had not he, with
almost human intelligence, or perhaps
paralyzed by terror, sunk fat to the
ground; whereupon the monster
passed clear over his body and lighted
close to me, yet not quite within strik-
ing distance.
For one second the baff1ed brute re-
NAMED motionless, as If undecided how
to act. Then, with q snarling cry of
rage, it once more crouched, glazing
gloatingly at me, as if. this time, sure
Of victim.
With one foot advanced, and the AK
held ready for instant use, watchfully
| awaited the onset, knowing only too
| we'll that If missed my first blow ]
should never have chance for another,
The suspense was short, however.
Again the jaguar gathered his hind
legs well under him, preparing for the
fatal springs spring that was never
made, for at that moment the aerial
food-gates were opened; the rain came
down as If from an overturned lake;
vivid lightning played around the steel
in my hands, and mighty crash of
thunder shook the earth itself.
The "tiger" seemed appalled,. just
as the cloudburst found him, with high
raised, arching back and retracted lips,
parted in fiendish grin, 40 he re-
manned while one might, perhaps, count
three Then he Strengthened COVER
~ out and writhed partly around. as If
to fly.
Too late! Though well-nigh over
whelmed by the almost solid sheet OF
falling water and half blinded by tho
incessant lightning flashes, had stag
gered forward until the ravenous beast
was within reach of my long-handlcd
ak, and, while he yet wavered in i11es-
olute bewilderment, brought the
keen blade down with all my strength
on his tawny neck, just back Of the
skull, severing' the spinal cord and lay
ing him, helpless and dying, at my feet.
Twas q lucky stroke indeed. Even q
rife bullet through his brain could not
have paralyzed the monster cat more
quickly. Wise old Pete realized the
changed condition Of stfairs at once
With half bray, half Whitney Of tri-
umph he rose from the ground and
gazed at his now dead enemy with a.
much pride beaming in his honest eyer
as if he himself had won the victory.
But all the soluble part of my dinner
was spoiled, and had to satisfy my
hunger on jer4<ed beef washed down
with plain water; for even if the ounce
of tea had not foated of the top Of
the overaowed pannier, it would now
have been impossible to kindle fire.
Tho <o,nnest If rain soon DaSSed