Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-28
the spinal column. We could hear the bones
crack under the Weasel's sharp teeth.

fruits OF MS Victory. just as ne was
shaking himself after the battle, there was
dark rush across the glade, and as | instinct
lively threw my gun to my shoulder pee
cary, evidently following the trail of the
snake, bounded down upon the scene and,
seeing the white belly of the snake and at the
same time the weasel, made dive at him.
And, though the smaller animal Kissed and
spat as spitefully as any cat, the wild hog
grabbed him across the body and with one
crunch broke his back. Throwing him aside
disdainfully, the peccary proceeded to eat
the snake with relish.
a. must shoot that pig before he gets to
the head of the reptile!' said, bringing my
gun again to my shoulder. Not that snake
poison has any effect upon the human stom-
ach; but did not just like the idea of butch
ering peccary whose insides contained
enough blood poison to kill half dozen
men.
But again felt the Indians restraining
hand.
"'Well, what is it now?' whispered, this
time somewhat impatiently.
Don't shoot!' he answered nervously.
Tiger
'"What, a jaguar!'
Not fifty yards distant, and intent upon
watching his quarry. stall1ed as fine speci-
men of the jaguar (Felis oncd) as one ever
sees. He was male, in the prime of life,
dull orange with splotches of black. He
skunk up on the peccary exactly as cat does
upon an unsuspecting mouse busy fee ling,
stopping at intervals, then running nois e
lessly forward. At one time, when the pee
cary twisted her head so that she might have
caught glimpse Of him, he instantly froze
into an inanimate object, immovable as a
statue. When he was within twenty feet of
he ha for nd
gathering ais great muscles shot into the air
with ter ling cry, and before the start
led peccary loud lump landed athwart her
back, killing hei instantly.
"Yet another time l poked forward my
fife from behind the tree where we were
standing and this time the Indians pressure
upon my arm was by no means light; yet
remember that the thought passed through
my mind quickly, This time Santiago can
not restrain me; for there is nothing in the
American forest to which the jaguar bows.
He is king!' The big animal presented
fine side shot and at close range. l took
quick aim and sent bullet crashing through
him just back of his fore leg. He sprang to
his feet, uttering a blood curdling scream;
but swayed and sank on his side with an ex-
piring deep groan of agony.
VET 1 might well have listened to the In
dian this last time, though / should
likely have acted as did anyway, for my
magazine was full of death dealing car
tridges, and before the jaguar's first scream
had ended the exploded shell was thrown
out and my rifle was ready for another shot.
And well that it was! All! how did the old
time hunters ever feel any assurance of
safety with their single shot, muzzle loading
rifles? Although they became accustomed
to charging their pieces with marvellous ra-
pidity, yet when at close quarters with dan
gerous game they could never depend upon
getting second shot; for there was first the
charge of powder to be emptied from their
powder horns into the barrel of the rifle, to be
held in place by wad rammed home, with
percussion cap to be adjusted to the nipple
of the gun.
Scarcely had the jaguar fallen in his
tracks when there was the answering cry of
the mate and the underbrush was parted
suddenly, second magnificent beast spring
ing into view. She stood for a second alert
and beautiful, then trotted over to where her
lord lay. She snuffed him, and paved him,
purring and growing softly. He was dead.
She became anxious. She smelled him fur
ther and turned him partly over. Then she
found blood. In an instant her manner
changed from that of anxiety and worry to