The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1904-03-01


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 yells 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 naked toward
the rear of the train.
Approaching the trainmen. I
heard them shout: Look out for the
jaguar, Powersl'
Now, no wild creature is more dam
gerous by night to man than jaguar.
l halted and stared. ! could now see
the glazing eyes of the fierce brute as
he paved the lfeless pig. Those eyes
followed me with such hostile intent
that | fastened back to the cab for
the fireman and my Winchester.
"Of course, one CT us had to stay
with the engine, so | 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 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 ore,
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. 10 on the in
cline.
II 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 jaguar. The fire of his
eyes was intensified by the Pickering
light of the torch. 1t was not a pleas
ant grimace when the brute suggest
lively wiped his lips and tongue with
those huge paws.
The engine gave a sudden lurch.
My fireman must have been meddling.
1t threw the animal from his balance.
His tail dashed. Handing the torch to
a man, / raised my Winchester. The
beast glared ferociously, and meas
ured 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 iaguar was nm
harmed, but he had changed his opin-
ion about the jump. and calmly trc.ted
along the tops of the bananas toward
the engine. ] aimed at him again and
pulled the trigger. Then I remem-
bered that the only cartridge in the
Winchester was the one l had fired.
81 shouted to the fireman, but before
could make him understand the cow
ardly fellow jumped from the cab and
scampered into the forest. Luckily,
there was no other jaguar awaiting
him.
II went toward the cab. expecting
to find the jaguar in possession. and
determined to club him out with the
butt of my gun; but he was not in the
cab. / blew brakes OF and casually
looked around On the floor of the
tender, among the wood end casks of
water, stretched cut at fun lergth and
apparently crouchiug for a spring. l
saw the iaguar iumned from tie
engine. The thought of the freman's
cowardice did not amuse me. As fast
as possible l 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
! had left the rifle IN the cab; now
took crowbar which one of the
brakemen handed me. Eut the plan
from which hoped most was his sug-
gestion that should climb unnn
the engine from the front of the
cab, and then reach in to omen the
steam valve on the chance that the
escape of the kissing steam would
brighten the brute to the point of
leapiug mthe train.
81 opened the valve the iaguar
never moved.
81 then reached a heavy iron wrench
and threw it at the beast with all my
strength. Itstruck him upon tie head.
but he did not stir. was startled.
TO the fancied security Of the
top of the cab. I poked him with a
rod; but l could see no
sign of life.
"After close watch. / descended
10 the floor of the cab and opened the
furnace door to have more light. The
iaguar was dead. There was hole
through his head caused by the lucky
shot from my Winchester. He had
walked to the tender in daze and
lied there.
Il blew the whistle vigorously. It
was welcome sound TO the trainmen.
The brakes were speedily released.
The fireman came scramblng back;
opened the throttle. and slowly the
rain went up the incline toward Porto
1ortez.
SAT little after ten O'Clock that
light the whistlhg OF No 10, approach
ng with her load of bananas. sum
noned the crew of the Breakwater.
whose captain congratulated the Of
cials of theHonduras railroad on the
.emarka ble exnpditipn of tha;- f,.,,s.