Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1903-03-26

| terrible yells echoed through the for
! est. The men from the rear of the
train were shouting at me. 1t was i'm
| possible to distinguish what they were
saying. because of the wells which
were rising apparently between me and
them. These did not alarm me much
| for the creature seemed like Wild
cat a reckless, but not dangerous,
night prowler. So on | walked toward
the rear of the train.
Approaching the trainmen,
heard them shout: Look out for the
| iaguar, Powersi'
"Now, no wild creature is more dan
gerous by night to man than iaguar.
/ halted and stared. ! could now see
the glaring eyes Of the fierce brute as
Ne paved the lifeless pig. Those eyes
followed me with such hostile intent
that / fastened back to the cab for
the fireman and my Winchester.
"Of course, one of us had TO stay
with the engine. so l left my fireman
in charge and returned alone, with
torch in hand and rife ready The
trainmen came toward me from
around the rear of the train. They
told me that the jaguar 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
cars, most Of them having frightened
brakes had stopped No. IS on the in
cline.
~ 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 Pickering
light Of the torch. It was not pleas
ant grimace when the brute suggest
lively wiped his lips and tongue with
those huge paws.
"The engine gave a sudden lurch,
Ny fireman must have been meddling
1t threw the animal from his balance
His tail dashed Handing the torch TO
q man, raised my Winchester. The |
beast glared ferociously and meas
ured with his eve 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 iaguar was I'M
harmed. but he had changed his opin- |
ion about the jump. and calmly trotted /
along the tops of the bananas toward /
the engine. | aimed at him again and
pulled the trigger Then l remem-
)ered that the only cartridge in the
Winchester was the one ! had fred
II shouted to the fireman. but before
could make him understand the cow
lrdly fellow jumped from the cab and
into the forest Luckily.
here was no other jaguar awaiting
lin.
81 went toward the cab, expecting
o find the iaguar in possession, and
determined to club him out with the
butt Of my gun; but he was not in the
,ab. ! blew brakes of and casually
looked around On the floor Of the
ender. among the wood and casks Of
water. stretched out at full length and
pparently crouching for a spring. |
aw the iaguar. ] jumped from the
ngine. The thought of the fireman's
owardice did not amuse me- As fast
s possible | ran toward the rear of
he train.
'Ten o'clock was approaching. The
hip could not receive her fruit unless
We started Immediately. In my haste
had left the rifle in the cab; now I
ook crowbar which one Of the
rakemen handed me. But the plan
rom which hoped most was his sug-
estion that I should climb upon
he engine from the front Of the
alb. and then reach in to open the
team valve on the chance that the (:
scape Of the kissing steam would
righten the brute to the point Of
Gaping from the train.
81 opened the valve the iaguar
ever moved.
Il then reached a heavy iron wrench
nd threw it at the beast with all my
trength. Itstruck him upon the head,
mt he did not stir. ! was startled. | I
'limbing to the fancied security Of the
op Of the cab. ! poked him with a
rod; but could see no
ign of life.
after close watch. ! descended !
o the floor Of the cab and opened the
urnace door 20 have more light. The
aguar was dead. There was hole
through his head caused by the lucky
hot from my Winchester. He had
walked to the tender in daze and
lied there.
Il blew the whistle vigorously. 1t