The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-15

when another man, more rasl, than his
comrades, said, Pm not afraid OF cav
mans and spurred his horse into the
stream. He had scarcely got halfway
across wren We perceived a mOnstrous
caynan rise and advance to meet him.
We uttered warning shout the Indian
himself perceived the danger threw him
sell from Il 5 horse and swan for the
bank with all his strength.
lie had already reached it, but i'm
prudently stopped behind the trunk of a
tree that had been felled by the force OF
the current, and where lie had the water
up to his knees. Believing himself Sc
cure he drew his cutlass and watched the
movements OF the cayman, which, mean
Whiie, had reached the horse Just as the
indian Quilted the animal.
Rearing his enormous head out OF The
water, the monster threw himself upon
the steed and seized him by the saddle.
The horse made a violent effort. the cirths
broke, ana thus enabled him to reach the
Shore. soon, however, finding that his
prey mad escaped, the cayman dropped
the saddle and made towards the Indian.
we perceived this movement, and quickly
cried out:
'ltun, run, or the cayman will have
you"
The Indian, however, would not stir, but
calmly waited, cutIaSs in hand. The
monster advanced towards him. The IN
dian struck him a blow on the head
which took no more effect than a flip OF
the fingers would have on the horns of "A
bull. The cayman made n spring, seized
him by one of his thighs, and for more
than a minute we beield my poor shep-
nerd, ms body erect above the surface OF
the water, his hands Joined his eyes
turned to heaven in the attitude of a man
lmploring Divine mercy, dragged back again
into the lake.
The drama was over During these
2pOnI re oil
but no sooner had my poor shepherd dis
appeared than we all swore to avenge
him.
caused to be made three nets of strong
cords. each of which nets was large
enough to form a complete barrier across
the river. | also had a hut built. and mt
an Indian to live in it whose duty was to
keep contant watch, and to let me know
as soon as the cayman returned to the
river. He watched in vain for upwards OF
two months, but at the end of that time
he came and told me that the monster
had seized a horse, and had dragged #
INTO the river to dev0ur at leisure.
Immediately repaired to the spot ac-
companief by my 9udrds, ana by nv
priest, who positively would see cay
man hunt, and by an American friend of
with me. l had the Mets spread at ing ins
tervals so that.the dAyman could not
escape back into the Jake. This opera
ton was not effected Without some acts
OF imprudence. IIss4sSlor instance, when
the nets were ARA 4g44an Indian dived to
make sure that tlFHMsere at the bottom,
and that our enemy Gould not escape nv
passing below them. But it might very
well have happenea ihat the cayman was
IN the interval between the nets, and SO
have gobbled up my Indian.
Fortunately everything passed off as we
wished. When alLwss ready / launched
three pirogues strongly fastened together
side by side, with some Indians in the |
center armed with lanees, and with long
bamboos with WHICH they could touch the |
bottom. At last, all measures havir o |
been taken to attain my end without risk
OF accident, my Indians began to explore |
the river with their long bamboOs
An animal so formidable in size as the
one we were in search of could not hide
himself very easily, and soon we beheld /
him on the surface of the river, flashing
the water with his long tail, swapping and
with his Jaws and endeavoring |
to get at those who disturbed him in his |
retreat.
A universal shout of Joy greeted his ap-
pearance. The Indians in the pirogues
hurled their lances at him, whilst we
upon either shore of the lake fired wolfe v. |
The bullets rebOunded from the monsters |
scales, which they were unable to pene- |
trate. The keener lances made their way
between the scales and entered into the |
cayman's body some eight or 10 inches
Thereupon Es disappeared, swimming