Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-12-19
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THE LOST FINGER +:
-~Os- y
A Story of Pioneer Life In Y
Central America Q
Ixo#ox0 o % Ho#oHe % . JOCK


charming slope. overlooking the broad,
smooth waters Of one of the tribu-
taries of the Parana. on whose opposite
shore the rank grass grew ten and
twelve feet high.
The house itself had tropical char
acter: 1t was Spanish-American. with
8 cool, shady veranda. long. low
front, painted walls and latticed win
dows, a spacious court and a fat roof,
provided with a parapet, which gave
the whole structure the appearance OF
fort. Many acres of cultivated land
showed long lines of sugar cane and
tell trees laden with bananas, in sur
prising contrast to the dark. impene-
trable mass of wild husband which in
the distance surrounded the settlement.
Sonora Diaz was one Of the tropical
beauties Of whom MuriIlo dreamed.
Il am going 10 test your gallantry,"
she said, coming out on the veranda
where | sat. by asking YOU to help me
TO water my flowers, for with my lame
hand ii is not easy for me 10 lift the
heavy watering pot"
Il am at your service. but allow me
am | wrong?- remind you that you
promised to tell me the story of how
your hand was famed"
Certainly. Az soon as the flowers
are watered we will have coffee on the
veranda. and you will hear all about
it"
Accordingly l was shortly afterward
slipping coffee with the little Lolita.
my hosts only daughter and my pet,
beside me, while her mother rolled a
cigarette, lighted it and began as fol-
lows.
When we came here this was very
wild place. and we had to endure
number of pests For instance, when
Lolita was a baby. my husband and
las men went off one morning to work
as usual. and the child lay asleep on
i mat at the end of the room Sudden
" / saw on the floor the skin Of
mouse, from which the whole body
had been sucked. as from an orange.
knew Mt once that n snake must be
near. for they feed on mice and eat
them in this fashion, but. carefully as
/ looked about me. could see no
snake till all ut once il occurred 10
me that it might be under the baby's
mat | snatched the child up and
placed her in safety. Then | lifted
softly a part OF the mat and there il
was-the long. Shiny, green and gold
reptile coiled up and fast asleep All.
how I jumped. | ran out into the
courtyard 10 call for help. Luckily
cur man. lose, was there. and he kill
"a the reptile. But az we cleared
more acres the snakes left US 10 hide
themselves in the forest. began TO
hope our cares were ended hut they
were only just begun. Wild beasts
now first appeared on the scene
One morning while we were at
treakf II one of our herdsmen brought
the neN hat our cattle which Craze
in the tall grass on the other side OF
the river. had been attacked by a
jaguar that had Killed one Of the bulls
The man who told us this had escaped
with his life. yet be would have scarce
~ done 50 If he had not misled the
beast or had there not been Il fat OK
there
A week passed without n new alarm.
and we had come TO think less about
it. when suddenly three or four Indians
rushed in to tell Ms how great jaguar
had broken into their camp and killed
E woman and one Of their dogs.
When my husband heard the story,
ne judged that it was the same ami
NAL that had attacked our bull. for the
Indians described 1t as a creature Of
singular color, far lighter than any
they had seen about there, so that they
Lamed it "1he White Death
We an thought il high time 70 do
something. and my husband called his
people together 10 go out and hunt the
animal.
I remember that morning distinctly.
They went away checrfully enough
each man with his gun and hunting
knife and Moro. our bloodhound, was
with them My husband turned around
just as he entered the wood and kissed
his hand 10 me. Then he and his com
panlons vanished in the forest.
When | found myself with Lolita
alone in the house aud thought Of what
might happen IL they met that terrible
wild animal. such anxiety seized me
although | never thought could he IN
Danger that l could not hc eoutented
ill ! had locked every door in the
house. and then ! seated myself ia the
great sitting room. took Lolita on my
lap and tried TO tell her story
suddenly | heard scratching along
the roof. and then dull thud. as il
something heavy had fallen
Anxious and nervous as was.
started up with a cry, although had
lao presentiment what il was
The next moment | heard just over
me sound which could not mistake
long. passionate roar-a cry that |
had often heard from the woods AZ
night and never without feeling as II
my heart stood still The thought rush
"a through my mind. ~0R. heaven. the
jaguar.'
shall never forget that moment,