Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-03-10
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BY GILES UNDERWOOD

T7RoM among the many strange Incl
dents Of his long residence in Hon
furas. related by my old comrade in
arms Henry Dacres. / select the follow
ing as evineing wonderful presence OF
mind in a moment Of deadly peril.
one day. said he 4 came down out
If the hills for the purpose Of exploring
some, bottom lands, where | was told
number OF unusually fine mahogany
trees might be found in a certain valley.
supposed to be about IL miles from my
camp. After a tedious search | finally
discovered the place. and seeing at
glance that ii really contained many
grand trees. dismounted, tied my mule
10 a sapling, and began close inspee-
ton on foot
AS the weather was very hot, ana
every extra ounce OF weight a burden,
left my repeating rife slung to the sad
die and my heavy revolyers in the hols-
ters. This was a very foolish thing for
an old woodsman and hunter to DO, but
no suspicion of possible danger crossed
nv mind at the moment, and ! was soon
20 deeply immersed In my estimates that
never gave the matter a thought
THE valley where ! now found myself
was a strangely damp gloomy and lone
4 IL spot. looking as If 1t had never been
trodden by the foot of civilized man. ana
although | saw there was plenty Of
money in It for me, felt an unaecount-
able depression Of spirits while explor-
ing IT.
.sRv and By began TO realize that !
was much fatigued and very hungry
and as II was now long past noon SAT
down on a log to eat a light lunch, when
had brought in my pockets. This con-
sisted merely of bread and meat and q
aask of cold coffee. and was munching
away. when / was aroused by erea'
connection among a number Of monkeys
oerched in the tops OF some adlaeeh'
palms. -,
"Being thoroughly conversant with
lthe habits of these sagacious littie erta'
lures. | knew at once from their alarmed
gatherings and cries Of rage that some
Il dangerous animal-probably puma
was IN the vicinity. However. had ne
great fears for my own safety, knowing
that the puma. or panther will rarely al
tack even single man in daylight
"Rut did fear that the beast. what
ever il was. might scent the mule, nov
about 300 yards distant, and eithei
nounce upon IL or cause it to break away
As this mule was the very best ! owned
an invaluable saddle beast, lost no tlm'
! in attempting to reach it, SO far ha'
, seen no signs of wild animal, but al
,na same I was convinced that the mon
kevs had given no fasle alarm, and ina
DANGER az some kind was near
~ was making my way through tn
nndererowth as fast as possible an
toeninp a sharp lookout, when caugh
sight of something which gave me thrii
IL terror and caused me bitterly 10 re
gret the folly of leaving my arms be
hind. for. crouched low upon his belly
directlv in my patch and not more ina
% paces ahead. a full-grown male ]aeua
lay beside bush intently watehihg me
AT this sight / stood for moment Q
! two stock-stin. and could plainly as
tinepish the beautiful, ringlike spot
mon the animals glossy hide, rhe cru'
, rleam of his greenish yellow eyes, an
: r,arlf the nervous. but as yet sign
twitehing of his slowly moving tall'
4 had not thought Of such a foe 9
his the iaguar being the largest an
6ercest Of ali the American Felidae. h
n common with the panther, Is muc
T dreaded by the natives of Honduras p
there Is no comparison between =
hrutes the iaguar being much iarg'
man the latter and much more formi'
able
aHe is. indeed. not far below the tig'
? If India in size. and is quite his equal
ferocity; and although generally OF
ike sneaking and cowardly nature
viii On occasion, display the same rec
less courage which at tines inspires q
Asiatic congener.
= Honduras people call both these gre
= cats Ell tigre. although the true tigef