Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-02

compare with this. When 1 was young
ster. at school. l remember how 1 discred
tied the accounts geographers gave of Bra
ill i am convinced that they told only half
the truth
He was speaking partly to himself, and
as he finished he stopped abruptly, almost
shoulder deep in tangled thorn bushes,
trailing vines and spike-edGed plants.
There was a look of evaporation, of ex-
hausted patience, ON his bronzed face. He
hit savagely at a low-drooping limb which
tickled his nose. and turned to his COM
panion, who carried "a flaming torch
Where are We Matto?' he demanded.
II truly do not know. senor, the Indian
guide replied, in fairly good English He
was strapping fellow with gravely shrewd
features, and clad in semi-clvillzed attire.
Then We are lost?'
Surely, unless We find the path
We missed it d mile back, grumbled
Quin, land i don't see any chance Of pick
ing 1t up again. So even you are at fault?
Matte shrugged his shoulders sullenly.
1T is the first time" he said. And 1
warned the senor-I promised him moth
ing
yes. that's true" Quin admitted. But
it doesn't improve matters to cast the
blame on me. We are hopelessly lost. and
I'm afraid Wen stick here till morning. 1
would rather be anywhere else"
A few moments before there had been
light enough to enable the Englishman and
the Indian to push slowly forward, 10 con-
tinue the search for the barely perceptble
trail they had lost at sunset. But now the
black night had fallen swiftly. and the
feeble glow of the torch was powerless to
penetrate the matted walls of vegetation,
the thickets of dank grass and nauSeouS-
smelling flowers, the interviewer trunks
and DOughS of trees.
On all sides was the vast. awe-insp iring,
peril-haunted forest. an unknown tropical
forest of rubber trees and plants, wonder
full fauna, botanical treasures unheard of
by any collector. A forest infested with
monkeys. gorgeous birds and venomous
snakes; the habitat of the wolf and the
tapir. the boar and the armadilo. and that
monarch of the southern continent, the
jaguar. This magnifcently spotted crea-
Ture. noted for its powers of climbing. is
no less dreaded than the tiger which it
fairly equals in strength and ferocity.
This forest, which Matthew Quin had
penetrated on a strange quest, was in the
wild province Of Amazonas. far up in the
northwest corner of the recently establish
ed republic of Brazil. 1t was $50 miles
from civilization and the coast. and iii the
basin OF the Arnazonas, that mighty river
which is 1000 miles long 1850 miles wide at
its mouth. and is nayigable for vessels as
far as the interior towns Of Peru.
BY reason of the difficulties and perils it
presents to travellers and explorers. the
heart of Brazil, where dwell saVages of
the most debaScd anC cruel type. is little
known today. Yet Karl HamIach's agent
had feariessly attacked this ill-cmened
country, ana DS SIeeE DUCK ana DerSGEeT-
ance triumphed where others would have
failed Starting from coast town. and
accompanied by Carruthers and two more
English assistants. Quin journeyed UP the
Amazon in a Peruvian-bOund vessel. The
party We're put off at an Indian village
along the river. They made their head
quarters here, hired native helpers. and
constructed a supply of cages and boxes.
In three months time they possessed a
splendid collection of beasts birds and rep
tiles, and meanwhile they had built a gigan-
tic raft. on which to convey their precious
cargo down the Amazon to the sea- where
1t would be shipped by steamer to Eng
land.
A rumor, coming TO Ouin's ears when he
was ready to start. caused him TO make a
slight alteration in his plans. He was in
formed by some Indians. who belonged to
a forest village twenty miles to the east
that immense jaguar which differed
from Its species by having snow-white
ring about its neck infested that part of
the country. Quin was disposed TO be in
credulouS, but he could not resist so tempt
ing chance. He determined to look into
the matter, and, in case the story should
be true, TO do his best to capture SO re-
markable and valuable a beast
1t happened that the Amazon beginning
at the headquarters village. made a wide
sweep of nearly 100 miles The short cut
across was only forty miles and midway
in this loop. which was covered with dense
forest. was the village near which the ring
ed jaguar had its lair. The Indians. who
were responsible for the tale refused, for
some reason. TO guide Quin. So he fell
back on Matte, his chief helper who spoke
several native dialects and was familiar
with that part of the country. The raft
started down the river DAY ahead of Ouin
and Matto- who set out on the following
morning across the forest They intended
II their investigation was successful to iofn
the raft on the far side of the loop and ar
range for the trapping of the ringed iaguar.
In what plight they found themselves at |
of
through the most terrible forest in the |
world has already been explained to the |
reader.
Quin lit his pipe. and a few whiffs of the |
strong eastern tobacco. always a soiace to !
him, reused his logged pluck
Forward, Matto! he said sharply Eve !
will stick to it for another hour. Then. if |
fortune is still unkind, We must spend the |
night in some tree"
The Indian. nothing 10th. led the way. |
lie dived and twisted like an eel amid the |
dtSheartening obstacles of the forest in one |
hand holding and protecting the torch
Qutn came behind. guided by the flashing |
light With the barrel Of his rife he heal
aside the tangled vegetation or lifted nm /
the heavy ropes Of lianas that dangled from |
tree 10 tree Beyond the CLEAN of the |
loren the darkness was Zimmerman. Fiery |
eyes sIared from thickets, and. under foot. |
kissing serPents sped away. frightened !
tapir grunted as it scurried through the |
brake and at no great distance the raspinp
cry OF jaguar was heard
NOPE II won come !
thought Quin. 1T might be the very crea
ture | want. and l would hate to shoot it, |
Senor, the path cried Matte. who was !
several yards In the lead
Quin hastily Joined him. and he chuckled |
with delight when he saw that the Indian /
had not made mistake. For there was
the lost path-a narrow, barely perceptible |
track curving through the trees between
the serried walls of plants and bushes II |
was the only guidance to the remote little
village in the heart of the forest Bidding
his companion follow, the Indian pressed on
feetly.
is this the right direction Quin asked. |
Without doubt, senior" |
And the village should be near?"
Within league or two"
Good The next question is how will |
We be received? As rule, the Indians of |
AmaZonas are treacherOus and cruel Will |
they give Us food and shelter or are they
more likely to treat as enemies?''
Senior, that is difficult to say" Matte re- |
piled. Truly, We are taking a grave risk"
The stake is worth the game" declared |
Quin. "A taguar with a white collar. II |
such an animal exists. would fetch a fabu- |
lous price. And then the glory of adding |
such a curiosity TO natural history All. / |
trust | have not been deceived. What is |
your opinion Matto?'
How should / know. senor?" the Indian
replied. There are strange things In the |