The National tribune., 1898-03-31

and the fdplr. III
use of an opportunity for. concealment
and retreat
When the close-pressed stag or moose
takes 10 water it is as means towards
some definite end-either to lnterpoSe an
obstacle that is difficult to pass, or else TO
stand at bay with success. In TINS last
instance il seeks. as an anita never does,
standinc-eround amidst cascades or rapids
where ASSISTANTS can find no foothoId;
while If concealment be the object sought,
then one of these animals SWlmS deep ana
silently. antlers laid back, and SINKS uh-
der a sheltering bank until nothing put the
nostrils show or gets into some pool away
from shore and imnlerSeS itself completely
4 river-horse uses water TO cover himSel
and blind his trail; while the tiger, wise
and wicked, although one OF the boldest
and best Of swimmers, often, when sore
beset, slips quietly INTO an indlail N.Y. ,,
go;nc off almost without a wake or other
sign. so silently and deeply does he swlm'
and so little can he seen OF him.
\ tapir is more at home in the water
than any OF the other species mentioned,
and has been compelled TO use the stream
when in danger oitener than they; put !
moves about on or under the surface,
precisely as il would run and double on
shore. without an effort at anything Dut
avoiding the nearest danger, with no plan,
and no apparent appreciation mat one
mode of behavior or position Is not as gooo
as another.
Breaking from covert, an anita bursts It's
WY 10y the shortest route towards
steam plunres in If not lanced or shot
u9on the bank and goes foamIng ana
snoring about with an aImlesS, lmpoieh',
tunuItuouS energy, Impeded ny the doso
that follow and soon overtaken, except
through GOOD luck. by Indians in swift
canoes 4 harpoon made fast TO the boat
or provided with a float Is struck INTO IL,
and arrow. knife. or spear ends the scene
That was not the way we hunted, now
ever As well shoot bucllshot lnstead Oh d
single ball murder the snow stalled, e2-
hausied moose. or fire upon netted tiger
Practice OF this kind befit barbarlans, not
sDortsmcn. While tapirS can he met on
shore with lance and hunting knife. ms
is the only way TO hunt them, unless one
is actually in want OF food -,
The incidents OF one such hunt VIII give
q picture of all The chief object, after
having got an anita on foot, is to intercept
its approach to water by a line ol heaters
moving parallel with its not very RAPID
course. One of these creatures crashes
through underbrush with sounds plainly TO
he heard at some distance, and besides
this its track is betrayed by dogs giving
tongue
In and out among immense trees and
smaller trunks of India-rubbeT palms,
wild banana. uee-ferns, with hundred
other forms draped by iianas, orchids, and
tapir carly one morning into the cool, dark
forest He had been 10 battle and was now
going back towards his shady lair in some
thicket Of ieafy bushes. Once or twice we
expected 10 bring our quarry INTO view;
but the signs as shown this damp soil
strewn with every kind Of vegetable debris
were deceptive and the tapir paced sc
dately on, totally unconscious that enemies
followed.
Dense nets Of creeping plants delayed
our progress, great fallen trees, over which
we tried to climb. had been converted
through decay into mere shells that broke
under cur weight and left US 10 struggle
out. Impossible curtains of interlaced
vines swung slowly in the air and turned
the party aside; many times also neither
pursuers nor game could go ahead without
making wide circuits 10 avoid impene,rable
brakes.
Finally however our dogs. three oi
them oncrels, like all The canine race in
these Teeions-wcTe slipped from their
leashcs. and the solemn silence which
broOded over this sceIle had scarcely Eeen
broken by our hounds voices before a
crashing i'm front showed that the fright
ened quarry had now gone off at speed.
True la its instincts this beast tried ia
break back, first on one fanil then on the
other; but barrier Of shouting foes closed
its way towards the Madeira, and we
raced Wadcd and scrambled on, while
vain efforts exhausted cur game, and be
fore long our hounds brought il 10 a stand
All crises in the chase OF large sized
animals cannot lie grand, even when sci
amidst nature s most impressive surround
ings. This desperate, unwieidy brute
plunging awllwardly about trying 20 rT
the active four footed assailants, or crush
them beneath its massive fore feet was
only grotesque and strange, not tremen
dous and terrible. Naturally, we saved thi.
comparatively helpless creature from Gu
followers lances and arrows, with which i