The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-06

knew that | was awake. All about me
the men We're starting up and gazing
fearfully around.
What is it. Pedro?" I asked my ma
tive guide and interpreter, who slept al
ways by my side He had drawn his
machete from beneath his poncho, and
now, resting on one knee, was looking
in the direction of the algarroba tree.
lei tigre. senor," he answered. He
is mourning his esposa" twife).
He pointed with his machete toward
the tree as he spoke. The full moon
had Just risen above the mountains and
by its light | could see the jaguar stand
ing beneath the tree looking UP at the
skin of his mate stretched against the
trunk. Twice he moaned. The sound
was something between whine and
low roaring, but its cadence unmistak-
ably was of distress. Then, throwing
his head higher, he uttered again cry
such as that which had awakened the
camp. Such sound ] have never heard
before or since. Loud, deep, vibrant it
filled the air with its expression of Won
der, diSmay and grief-a jaguafS GRIEF,
with a note of gathering anger in its
tone. AS it ended the creature turned
toward our camp, as l could tell by the
lila ming forth of his eyes like hrebalis.
Then lowering his head and half crouch
ing, the jaguar uttered roar after roar.
We were all on our feet now, and
every man who had a weapon of any
kind had seized 1t. Son. of the men
were at the fires that had been built
around us, stirring them into blaze
and piling fuel upon them. taking care
as they worked not to get beyond the
protection of the flame. Every instant
we expected the jaguar to come bound
ing upon us. The sight of our numbers
and the blazing up of the fires held him
back from attacking us, but for several
ha
angrily Sometimes he would crawl
few inches toward us, or, rising, would
tear at the turf and tree roots as If test
ing the strength of his claws. 1t was a
splendid challenge that none OF us was
inclined to accept
At 90 yards away, i'm the bright MOON
light. the jaguar made fine mark Tor
my rifle, but somehow | did not feel
like shooting him. His grief and resent
ment, both so intense and lifting, APP
pealed to my sympathy. and l should
have been glad to see him turn away
unmoesteds l stood with my finger at
the rifle trigger without aiming until
Pedro's whisper came:
Fire, senior. while you have the
chance In the name of Joseph and
Mary do not wound without killing him.
II you do he will have revenge"
Then / fired three shots in succession,
aiming between the fiery eyes. The
moonlight may have been deceptive,
perhaps tiger fever. more nerVe-shak-
ing than buck fever. got into my aim.
| knew that none of my bullets had
struck the jaSuar. But what was bet.
ter than merely TO wound him. their
Mhistling and the flash and reports OF
the firing caused the jasuar to retreat.
AT the third shot the roaring ceased.
and he crept into the shadow of the
tree Somewhere beyond the trunk
caught another glimpse of his eyes and
fired two more shots. That was the
last we saw of him, as he stole away
in the darkness.
Five minutes later there came an out
cry from the direction in which our
stock had been driVen-sounds of
stampede of hoofs. the cries of the
herders and a gunshot. l took half the
men and carrying torches, we started
for the sounds We met the herders