The National tribune., 1898-02-10

were likely to be realized unless some
thing could be done in the way OF preven-
ton. Neither can ii be said that they
alone were threatened, since iaguars Kill
men also when occasion serves, and IN
these regions many OF them.
Subsequently our acquaintance with
those tigers OF the west became, perforce,
extremely intimate; now IL was much less
extensive, but we were confident that one
OF these creatures could easily be brought
to bay, and that it would be more likely to
fight than not II pressed.
Acting upon this information, Francisco
was posted on high ledge of rock where
he overlooked the horses with two double
barreled breech- leaders. The others fol-
lowed us, and not with that alacrity which
such desperate fellows as they claimed TO
be might have been expected to exhibit in
face OF real danger.
The tigers pugS went along a cliffSlde
some distance, and then turned up one of
those gorges which run into most que
bradas. Ii was rough, set with scrub
growing in patches, and frequently en-
numbered by powders. Not good place to
trail so uncertain wild beast in; for cover
lay everywhere, and the track gave no
indication To perfect strangers IN this
vicinity OF where il led, or any sign TO
SHOW now far of our enemy was; so that
We might have walked into the iaguar,
despite every precaution, If it had chosen
to wait
Fortunately, however, this splendid
brute did not make up its mind soon
enough; and yet there were, after Il little,
certain limitations which sufficiently
warned experienced people that a crisis
was imminent. The trail began TO be ex-
plcit. Ills gallop sobered down To Il walk,
/ he halted 10 look back; once or twice
! towards the end there was evidence Of a
bound or two in which his claws had been
protruded-an infalilbe mark of anger in
! Of ila Ink nod
plain; but what could not be then known
/ was that this ravine, as We discovered
! later, formed q cul de sac whose further
! end contained no exit, being entirely
| closed with preclpitOuS rocks which for
some reason or other, perhaps because a
jaguaT is one of the LATEST creatures alive,
! THIS brute did not feel inclined To attempt
| although the true tiger, and panther also,
would have made nothing Of such an
obstacle if either Of them had really desired
| To escape.
Some distance up the ravine made a
: bend. Around its curve extended a clear
! space Of gravelly soil, and beyond a firing
( ing thicket stood an apparently sheer wall
/ of cliff. Nobody need have wished for any
| thing better. An open field To- settle mat
I tiers in, and foe whose retreat having
been cut off would most probably come
1 out 10 fight
! First, however, we proceeded to get rid Of
our frightened followers. There was
enough risk ahead, without taking the
/ chances of being shot from behind by
towards who had lost their nerve. SO
they were sent on TO "A crag that iutted out
| in front from the left side, with instruc-
! tons 10 fire into the scrub whenever they
! saw any sign Of the tigers whereabouts,
! and on no account to pull trigger when he
| closed in. Then taking ground about
/ thirty PAGES apart, TO get cross range we
| slowly moved forward.
! Presently d dull CLEAN Of yellow and
/ black fitted for an instant through the
! dark foliage, and one Of those imbcciles
/ aloft fired at it, with about as much effect
! as II he had discharged his gun in the air
/ 1t brought an answering war cry, however,
! and while this vast volume Of voice rolled
| reverberating through the narrow glen few
would have cared 10 question the truth OF
| Browns saying that it had a grand
| SOUND, with true, noble ring in it,"
! We knew he was not likely to make any
feints false charges for the purpose Of
/ frightening us, after fashion practiced by
lions, and ne with the stripes likewise;
| but that when his assault came it would
! be delivered in one headlong and desper-
ate rush. This contamination seemed to
be near, for not more than half the omen
had been crossed before those harsh, graf
ing roaFs became almost continuous, and
a little back we could see bushes tossed
here and there as the enraged beast spiang
| from place To place.
Then my companion, trailing his rife.
| threw stone, and this capped the climax
| Leaves and twigs whirled into the air,
there was a rushing sound as if a strong
| wind swept over we saw a flying half con
cealed form, and the next instant he
bounded down upon us. Talk OF a iagu-
lars dull, deadly cye''-these orbs were
shooting fire.
His crest bristled, the whole body was
dilated, his face had writhed into an in
! describably malignant grin, and the sonOr-
Gus roars of defiance were now changed to
deep, hoarse, broken cries, cavernous as if
they issued from the bowels Of the earth.