South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-23
CHAPTER III.

AS the 1lrSt spectral gray OF dawn
began to sift it's pale light through
the forest. we were sliding up river
in the curial with the hounds. The
Indians padding swiftly, we soon
arrived at the spot where we were
TO moor our craft and follow into
the vast forests. All my men were
bare-footed, but they could see; by
that ! mean they had the trained
eye OF the lynx, and at glance could
distinguish the dull notified body of
the deadly labaria snake from the
branches and roots that it so closely
resembled. But the sense of the two
Indians was still more keen than that
of the bushmen. They seemed to
possess the very craft of the dwell
were of them. John Charley could
observe the footsteps of the game
when the alien eye could not discern
the slightest vestige.
1t was with no little difficulty
followed these fellows through the
woods, as they quietly and appar-
emily with the greatest east threaded
their way. and must confess L was
quite ashamed of the noise l made
numbering along. There would be
plenty of opportunity for practice.
however. and surely l must improve
a little. About two miles were COW
cred and to me they seemed much
mOre-for | was already beginning
to tire and there was no life in the
hot murky air. Between the dew
and perSpiratiOn l was quite wet
through, and after picking up a cou-
pie of thOrns. having my hat brushed
off a few more times. l was COM
mencing TO feel like a novice. At
just this juncture John Charley
pointed down to the ground. chuck
led TO himself and seemed greatly
pleased. L looked carefully along the
floor of the jungle, but could not see
the slightest sigh nor reason for his
mirth. Presently we came to
creek and here on the muddy banks
l could plainly see the large three
toed hoof prints Of tapir. Passing
on little further, the hounds soon
gave tongue and were away on his
hot trail
The excitement seemed TO give me
a new lease of life, but just how /
managed to develop the speed 'and
endurance 10 keep up fairly well
with John Charley, ! never quite
knew
Running down to a muddy bit. Of
ground, ] caught sight of the big
animal which looked as large as a
COW. The dogs had him at bay. and
at one dog and then at another.
trying to crush out their lives with
the lightning stamp of his fore
feet.
To be quick with the rifle meant
new specimen for me, rest, and
refreshing draught of water; TO bum
gle meant more Of the terrific pace
and perhaps to lose him altogether.
Dash" the most daring and vicious
fighter of the pack hurled himself
in and gripped the tapir by the flank.
At the same moment the animal had
whirled. one hoof raised, and before
IL began to descend-or an eye-wink
later-the big beast fell forward and
lay quite still. There had been no
bungle.
A pleasant smoke, lone deep
drink OF water, a quiet rest in the
shade are pleasures that money can
not bring. but have to be fairly
earned TO be appreciated. The tapir
was large bull, and 1 estimated
his weight in this way. The men,
six. Of them. after cleaning. remoV-
ing the head and lower part of the
legs. divided up the meat IN SIX
parts TO the extent of what they
considered a fair load to each man.
Figuring so pounds 20 a man, and
for parts removed, l would
say 400 pounds very conservative.
Taking large palm leaves and secur-
ing with the smaller bush-ropes or
creepers which made an excellent
substitute for rope and cOrd-the men
made very neat parcels of their
loads. and passing across their fore
heads one OF these supports, packed
out the meat much after the manner
Of the Canadian wOOdsman.
Coming down the river The men
made il lively and interesting and
treated me 10 rather a novel enter
As they propelled the
boat rapidly along they chanted drOll
tunes. There were part-songs. and
solos with choruses that told Of tales
Of the chase, mournful tragedies.
and adventures. As they sang they
would now and again throw up the
water with their paddles, 50 that II
played in the sunshine, and fell in
a jewelled shower while all through
il an accompaniment was kept up by
the tapping OF their paddles on the
side OF the boat. They also inter-
spersed the songs with long peculiar
blasts on the hunting horns and
this, I learned later in the day. was