New-York tribune., 1910-08-28


Ny gun came up without a Wayer. and line
OF fire poured forth from the rifle muzzle
straight into the 1aguars broad breast. But
heavens and earth, Was | shooting paper
wads2 The shots only effect was to bring
forth a terrible screech Of rage, and | reCOg-
nized grimly, as the big body launched itself
into the air. as # shot upward from spring
board. that every muscle was tense with life
and vigor. great teeth barred. and ewes blaz-
ing. The iaguar was unhurtl There was no
time to load and fire again | flung down my
rife and SpTang aside, Just IN time TO miss
the sweep Of a naCelille paw, armed with
wicked cutlass claws, Jerking, as / jumped,
my heavy Colt from Its holster.
RUT Santiago was a shade quicker. a cir
- Gle of blue steel writhed itself round the
Indian head and with fierce whoOp down
he flashed his keen maChcte, Its razor blade
shearing alike through bone and muscle OF
the iaguar'S fore paw. The next instant my
six-shooter spoke. and a II crashed through
The big cats brain. Then a glance at the
animals breast and left paw told me the
truth. In tempest Of rage turned my re-
volver at Santiago's head.
"'Speak,' said, you scoundrel, as you
value your life! You loaded my rifle. From
how many shells did you extract the bullets:
He held high his head and looked me fear
lessly though reproachfully straight in the
eyes
-. You tell me lie, Cap'n. l no take out
bullets. What you think? | try save your
life, when you no kill tiger and Santiago
shrugged his broad shoulders disdainfully.
There was no mistaking the Indian S
honesty With an inward flush at my sus-
picions and loss Of temper | looked again at
The iagl1ar's breast. Ha, There were surely
some small shot marks and a few trickles OF
blood. ! sprang to my rife and threw out
couple Of uneXploded cartridges. What do
YOU suppose they were? The internal trick
cartridges loaded with small shot, such as
Buffalo Bill makes his star shots at glass
balls with. nodded with gray paper to resem-
bic bullets. | had had some Of these play
cartridges and had greatly astOnlshed San
tiago and Others Of the natives by shooting
small birds on the wing with a rife. No
wonder the shots had only enraged the
iagrIar. and lucky that the shot at the male
iaguar had been with a ball cartridget
=. Santiago | said, | owe you a double
apology VIII you shake my hand:' And
the Indian, still mvstified, clasped my hand
lovallv and cordially. i had no night to
rnistrust YOU | continued, as l explained
the bullet ruse that had come 50 near causing
Us disaster, no Tlg1J 70 Qou u you, al 4i
splendid close with the lagua~- r@1ty be-
lieye YOU could have finished llm alone.
90 Ny father kill jaguar with machete
once. said the Indian simply; but thought
,r7, time come when | look down that bg
black barrel and see your angry eyes be
hind
YOU question" :" continued the Captain as
L | relighted my cigar, which had gone
out during the telling Of the fight, whether
! am : perfectly sure that he could HIS
stroke was clean right-hand swing, and 1t
cIIt through the animals great paw as neat
ee = whistle. Without pause, his next stroke
would have been half circle over over his, his hehd ,hd
and a down cut that would have spit tlle
;,aI,ar's skull in twain from crown TO neck.
can handle broadsword myself; but these
-7af;yes, who are born with machetes in their
hands, can strike with double the thee G4{llns IL ,ts
fDrrf / can command. Santiago would have
IA And there lay the links in our chain Of de