River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1896-08-06

vells. gny ore of which would certainly
have demoTalized human enemy whd
had an ear for music. and started to-
ward the mule. hoping to save him from
the attack. But the great cat, with all
its bloody instincts aroused, did not
scare worth cent. Before had covered
one-half Ct the 80 yards. il sprans
harshly screaming into the air. and,
with outssretched talons and cleaning
fangs, would have descended fairly
upon old Pete's hack. had not he. with
almost human intelligence. or perhapi
paralyzed by terror. sunk fiat 20 to
ground; whereupon the monster
passed clear over his body and lighted
close 70 me, yet not quite within stril,-
ing distance.
For one second the bafiled brute re.
manned motionless. as IL undecided how
to act. Then. with a snarling cry Of
rage. il once more crouched. glaring
gloatingly at me, as il, this time, sure
of a victim.
With one foot advanced. and the AK
held ready for instant use. l watchfully
awaited the onset. knowing only tod
well that il I missed my first blow
should never have chance for another
The suspense was short. however.
Again the jaguar gathered his hind
legs wei under him. preparing for the
fatal spring-a spring that was never
made. for at that moment the aerial
fiOod-gates were opened: the rain came
down as IL frOrn an overturned Ike:
vivid lightning played around the steel
In my hands. and a 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 a fiendish grin. so he re-
NAMED while one might. perhaps. count
three. Then he Strengthened cover
ly 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 the
incessant lightning flashes, had stag
gered forward until tle ravenous beast
was within reach of my lOng-hsndlcd
AK. and, while he vet wavered in irres-
clute bewilderment. brought the
keen blade down with all my strength
on his tawny neck, just back of the
skull severinC the spinal cord and lay
ing n. helpless and dying, at my feet.
Twas a lucky stroke indeed. Even
rifie-bullet through his brain could not
have paralyzed the monster cat more
quickly. Wise old Pete realized the
changed condition of affairs at once.
- - .,F fri
umph he rose from the ground and
cazed at his now dead enemy with as
much pride beaming in his hor st eyes
as II he himself had won the vic CRY.
But all the soluble part of my dinner
was spoiled. and l had to satisfy my
hunger on ierked beef washed down
with plain water; for even if the ounce
of tea hal not fioated off the top of
the overlooked pannier, it would now
have been impossible to kindle a fire.
The tempest of rain soon passed
away. and then most carefully
skinned the jaguar; a long and tediou-
job. as l took great pains to preserve
the beautiful pclt with head, claws and
tail complete.
With the single exception of one
afterward killed in Brazil. this was
the largest jaguar l have ever seen, its
gorgeously ringed and spotted coat
measuring from end of snout to tail
tip within a fraction of IL feet.
Without further adventure | reached
camp shortly before dark, and a week
afterward. while cutting paths to the
big trees, my men found the lost re-
volver. which, however. was nearly
ruined by rust.-N. Y. Ledger.