South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-24

labaria snake. about five feet long.
lying at full length only a couple of
steps in front OF me. He was appar-
entity sleeping away the long, sitting
hours Of the day, while the sun full
upon him seemed 10 be TO his liking
Great chance for a picture, thought l,
and straightaway the camera record
ed the scene. But as 1 stood adjusting
another film l felt myself being quick
IS drawn backward by one of the
men. and then saw the reptile had
suddenly become very much awake,
and with quick-darting head raised
and arched he loked hideOus and
menacing. There could be no doubt
that he meant to resent our pres
ence; though he did not shorten the
distance between US, he showed no
signs Of retreating; in fact, his atti-
tude made me believe he was more
very moment John Charley's silent
arrow pinned him neatly to the
ground. while he writhed and struck
again and again in his wild hate and
fury at the unheard-of enemy that
not only was eating out his life but
riveting him to the spot as well.
Ranjettan. never missing an oppor-
tunity TO bring his cutlass into play,
with quick, clean stroke decapitated
NAAC AonS, SlIupuS fuOlIleu creature.
Upon returning from some bird
watching studies l could see some
thing had taken place during my alb
sence. John Charley was wearing
his broad smile that always indicated
he had something to show me. or
something had transpired. 1t seems
that he had contrived temporarily TO
incapacitate an electric eel by wound
ing it with an arrow and had penned
shores edge so that the water could
flow in and out, at the same time
keeping this most peculiar species of
all the hnny tribe a prisoner. The
eel was about four and a half feet in
length. and the slight wound he had
received did not seem to affect his
health or activities. / had heard Of
the electric eel befOre-heard that
they could send a shock through the
water so severe as to render a man
helpless, who might be swimming
near by. But / found this fellow
could not or would not send any
shock through the water. Ny illus
trious John did not know I was ia
miliar with the characteristics of his
captive. and suggested that 1 touch
the eel, which L promptly did, and
received pretty sharp shock. Then
we each took turns in taking a shock.
If he felt like it he would give you a
shock identically the same as that re-
celVed from an electric battery.
With the two Indians / took many
silent walks through the jungle,
while they would point out various
game signs that were to me very in
teresting, incidentally hoping we
might, by sheer luck, come upon a
jaguar.
After we had employed for sew
erai days all the best methods at our
command for seeking out this elusive
American tiger. we decided that there
were none just then in the immediate
vicinity. We, therefore, again struck
camp, proceeding farther up the
reaches of the mighty Essequibo the
river that glides through wonderland
Silver and golden sand bars swept
| into view; on one side of the river
naked cyclopean rocks caused the
water to hiss and roar as il fought
/ FOR passage; while looking away To
| the southwest great forest -clad hills
| rose tier upon tier, and in the glow
! of the STOPPING suns soft medley OF
! shade of color, produced the sooth-
| ing effect of an Opiate BATH
We encamped that night on a sand
! bar, and scarcely had we made our
| camp when we saw clouds of insects
| coming across the river, and soon we
were in the midst of a swarm of hying
| ants. In vain we muffied our heads
! and lit Vulnerable smudges: they set.
/ tied on everything. crawled up oul
arms and dropped down our backs
Finally the cook announced he coulC
not prepare the dinner. as they
swarmed into the pots whenever h.
lifted the lids. We began to thinl