The daily Republican., 1902-12-23

| tollowed me with such hostile intent
that ! hastened back TO the cab for
the fireman and my Winchester. '
'Of course. one of US had to stay
with the engine. SO | left my fireman
| in charge and returned alone. with
| torch in hand and rifle ready. The
| trainmen came toward me from
around the rear of the train. They
told me that the ,iaguar must have
been crouching on the overspreading
limb, and having heard the squeals Of
the pig. must have leaped recklessly
into the passing train for his prey.
The trainmen had discovered him
when they started to answer my sig
nal of brakes, Off The brute held
them at bay. They were in the rear
car. the jaguar was in the next one,
and they could not pass over the train
to release the brakes. The is loaded
ears, most of them having frightened
brakes had stopped No. 10 on the in
cline.
81 must either give up hope of get
ting to the port in time for loading
the Breakwater. or else must kill or
drive away the iaguar. The fire of his
eyes was intensified by the flckering
light of the TORCH. 1t was not pleas
ant grimace when the brute suggest
lively wiped his lips and tongue with
those huge paws.
"The engine gave sudden lurch.
My fireman must have been meddling.
1t threw the animal from his balance.
His tail lashed. Handing the torch to
man, | raised my Winchester. The
beast glarrd ferOciously, and meas
urcd with his eye the distance to the
ground. Some of the men ran. As
the animal seemed about to jump.
! took hasty aim and pulled the trig-
ger Apparently the jaguar was nn-
harmed, but he had changed his opin-
ion about the jump, and calmly trotted
along the tops Of the bananas toward
the engine ! aimed al him again and
pulled the trigger. Then | remem-
bered that The only cartridge in the
Winchester was the one | had fired.
81 shouted to the fireman, but before
I could make Linn understand the cow
ardly fellow jumped from the cab and
scampered into the forest Luckily,
there was no other iaguar awaiting
him.
81 went toward the cab, expecting
to find the .iaguar in possession, and
determined to club him out with the
butt of my gun; but he was not in the
cab. ] blew brakes Off, and casually
looked around. On the floor Of the
tender, among the wood and ca KS Of
water. stretched out at fun length and
apparently cro1rdhing for a spring,
saw the jaguar. | jumped from the
engine. The thoueht Of the freman's
c0wardicc did not anuSe me. As fast
as possible | ran toward the rear Of
the train
"Ten o'clock was approaching. The
ship could not receive her fruit unless
we started Immediately. In my haste
I had left the rifle in thc cab; now
took crowhar which one of the
braEcmcn handed me. But the plan
libhI Nhi'' ! H'i'F| lloSN NiS HIS SlS-
gcstion that | should climb upon
the engine from the front of the
cab, and then reach in to open the
steam valve on the chance that the
escape Of The Kissing steam would
frightcn the brute to the point Of
leaping from the train.
81 opened the valve - the iaguar
never mDTcd.
81 then reached heavy iron wrench
and threw it at the beast with ali nv
strength. 1t struck him upon the head,
but he did not stir. | was startled
Climbing to The fancird security of the
top Of the cab, 7 pollcd him with a
long handled rod but | could see no
sign of life.
"After close watch, 7 descended
to the floor Of the cab and opened the
furnace door to have more light. The
iaguar was dead There was a hole
through his head caused by he lncky
shot from my Winchester. lie had
walked to the tender in daZc and
died there.
81 blew the whistle vigorously. It
wa a We'"omr sound to the trainmcn.
The brakes were speedily released.
The fireman came Scrumbiing back:
! opened the throttle. and slowly the
train went up the in''ine toward Porto
Cortcl.
"N litt'" after ten O'Clock that
night the Whi~tlin2 Of No. Is, approach
ing with her load of bananas, sum
mOned the crew Of the Breakwater,
whose captain cuugrat ulated the Of
ficials Of ihcEIouduras railroad on the
remarkable expedition Of their fruit
service. But when he saw the nine
feet OF iaGuar stretched out in nv
tender and heard the story Of the
difficulties Of thc run. he remarked
that The railroad Officials should PASS
a vote Of thanks to me upon the sue.
cess Of The record trip Of the ruad."---
Youths Companion.