Los Angeles herald., 1905-12-24

I water.
In an instant Fowler was inboard, and hs
] turned Of the steam. Val had run INTO tn
] cabin to get his gun for the double purpose {
llng at the animal and to arouse those
the camp, and Fred had rushed toward I'm
Inn nest, to make sure that he had sutiere
no harm from the steam.
, 1t was well that Val thought of rousin
those m the camp, otherwise some serious dan
age might have been cone. for the animal wa
IN that condition of rage and pain from tn
ourns that he would have made attack uT
on any one whom he met from sheer savage
ness.
The mark presented by the iaguar as il
swan through the water IN the gray light o
the morning was anything but a good one, and
although al fired three times in rapid success
sion, he did not succeed in hitting the beast.
The report of his rife. however, brought tn
occupants OF the tents out very quickly. and
seeing such force opposed to him, the jagual
SUNK away into the woods, apparently un
harmed by the shower OF bullets that wer
sent after him.
1t was some minutes before those on tn,
snore could understand whether the jagual
they mad seen Sinking of into the bushes haC
sWum across the river, or whether it was th'
one they had proposed TO add TO the menage
re collection on the schooner.
\ al soon informed them. however. that In,
animal was the identical one he had been or
dened to carry down the river, and George
anu AJoCAOL DuIIDuHuS al once came on DOaTC
TO see what damage had been done.
II was found that the jaguar had lije<ally
sprung his narrow cage apart, probably by
archlng his back like cat. but that the re
malnder OF the prisoners were still securely
Gagged Save for the window the animal had
broken when, scalded by the steam. he had
leaped INTO the water, no damage had beer
done. Protected by his nest. Tiny Tim had
experienced no bad effects from the deluge oi
hot vapor that had filed the cabin, and those
tnom the shore, as well as those on board
breathed more freely when they learned how
tr1filng had been the mischief.
1 ou had better come on shore and get your
reakfast now, said Doctor Burroughs. as he
stepped into the boat again, for there is nc
necessity OF YOU going to the North Star. now
that the Jagusr has escaped. We can carry
the birds and the armadillos until we get a
load for the long boat"
We can run down as well as not. sir re.
phed Nal. Just trlfle disappointed because he
was not to have the opportunity Of showing
what the Midget could DO.
There is no need for it. and 1t would sim
ply be waste OF time 10 make trip with
the small number OF specimens we have got
on board Come on shore. and We will be on
our way up the river in half an hour
On shore the boys went. as a matter OF
course, after the decision was announced. and
as soon as breakfast had been served, the
camp equlpage was packed up and put on
board the yacht, ready for a continuation OF
the journey.
At SIX o'clock every one was on board the
Midget, the goods that had been used on shore
were packed away in the cockpit. and Val gave
the signal TO 60 ahead the moment Captain
Thompson and Fred had the anchor apeak.
FOR three hours the yacht steamed up the
river without meeting with any signs OF life
save the sluggishly-moving alligators in the wa
ter and the birds that fitted from branch to
branch with songs that had in them very little
that was melodious
At the end Of that time, and lust when Val
was asking his father how much further he in.
tended to run, the Midget stopped with a
shock that threw every one from his feet. and
then, heeling over slightly, lay hard and fast
aground IN what appeared TO be the very
channel OF the river
The engine was at once reversed snd Can
tam Thompson called every one aft In order
that by bearing the stern down the bow might
be raised. but stIll II was impossible to move
her from the bank.
Its no use," said Captain Thompson. after
half an hour had been spent in irving alter
Bstely to push the yacht Of by the means Of
oars used as poles. and by reversing the en-
gine. ''She won't float until We tighten her
and the best thing we can do Is to set ND the
tents on shore, taking everything from the
Yacht that we can
Every one saw that It would be useless to at
tempt to float the Midget as they were then
working and Doctor Burroughs gave orders
LnaI the party make lanuing- ' Al. FRED and
Arthur were 10 remain on board to try to hoat
the yacht as soon as the heaviest articles were
taken on shore.
lt was by no means an unpleasant place al
which they had been forced to encamp. Just
opposite where the yacht was aground a small
clearing IN the forest afforded good camping
place, and nearby tiny stream trickled down
INTO the river, showing that the cooks would
not have far to 20 for pure water
The work Of unloading the Midget was nee
essarily slow, and by the time the last article
was loaded into the long boat It was noon.
Fowler had tried the engines, but. as tbey
were powerless to move the boat from ths