Year: 1868


wide by the nick name of 'the murderer!
/ had succeeded in catching and eating
eleven men, up to the time | ran acros;
him, and so you may understand what ;
monster he was. He would venture
forth nearer to the edge of the grea
South American forest than any other
beast of his tribe; for you know the
jaguar lives very deep in the woods, as s
rule


"Well, about that time I a'h speaking
Of | got into trouble IN San Blancd, ahC
was obliged to take to the woods for safe
ty till my companions could join me-


''1t was not without very uncomfort
able feeling under my waistcoat. assure
you, that [ struck into the woods; for |
had no more deadly weapon than my knife
no gun, no pistol, nothing that | could
even attempt to defend myself with in
case of attack


There were rumor8 that 'the murder
err had been seen within few days in
the neighborhood; and in fact the pro-
vincial Justice had that very day issued a
call to the huntsmen of the dist let, to
gather on the following day and set out
in pursuit of this terrible man eater So,
of course, my thoughts were full Of the
beast.


"You must know there is broad des-
ert between San Blanco, and the woods


"a vast waste without water or vegeta-
ton, and only here and there tree.
But it would not afford me a safe hid ng
place, and so I had to hurry across it as
fast as c.uld IN order to get into the
| woods.


II bad gone bu5 little distance in the
dark forest, looking about cautiously
when l heard away off in the distance, a
| noise which | knew at once was the
jaguar's rrai'


"You see my nerves were all cf EN-
BILE, owing to the excitement [ was in,
and this, added to the fact that was wait
ing every minute il fear Of that very
sound, made me hear it when the beast
was a great distance off.


My flesh almost crept as | heard that
no other animal makes-and enough to
set your teeth on edge, even if it didn't
mean death.


"Bnt it did mean death to me-and
horrible death, too.


This, and d good deal more, ran
through my head like lightning when [
heard that far-off scream. | knew he
had 8nufed my blood and was after me;
and [ imagined him crashing through the
woods, his tail flying, and his eyes blaz-
ing, on my track, How was [ to escape !?
At first | thought of going up one of the
great solid trees which were around me;
bu then | remembered that the jaguar
is a skillful climber and that with their
low hanging branches he could easily
reach NE.


MY only chance was to reach carob
tree which stood all alone out on the des-
sert, toward the town. Perhaps the ja-
guar would not follow me there.


"The screaming was now distinctly au
dible, and | was no longer in doubt
Throwing off everything that could cum
Der me, l began to run.


Il am a good runner; | never saw
many men that could run with me But
to outrun jaguar [ never had any
idea Of doing it, Still L thought might
reach the carob tree.


1.-The roarS became more frequent and
louder as | ran, aud at last, looking back
when | was about half way to the tree,
saw the murderer springlng over the
ground, gaining on me at every bound.


H'Excuse me, sir, there's the manager
calling me; I'll have to go" said the
gymnast.


"But how did you eScape?" l asked.


''I'll tell you another time" said he,
hurrying away:


. II reached the carob tree" said the
gymnast, resuming his story the next time
| met him, reached it in ample time, for
the iaguar was still long distance off, as
[ could tell by his roars. The ground
was so uneven that | could not see him,
but heard him often enough.


"The tree was tall and slim therein
lay its value, you comprehend. There
was only nest of branches away up at
the top, and none but trained climber
could ever have got up. But climbing is
part Of my trade, you know. [ went up
in that tree lively, / can tell you. 1t was
far from a strong tree, and my climbing it
made it shake and sway; but it was Of
tough wood, and l managed to get into
the top.


"nid you ever see bird light on hol-
lyhock stalk /? Then if you have you
know how the stalk will sway and culver
under the birds weight. Well. what that
bird was to the hollyhock, I was to that
.carob tree. 1t swayed and shook under
my weight Just like that hollyhock under
that bird. But knew the tree was tough,
and didn't feel afrad-not of that-r11y
thoughts were on something else-vcry
much more dangerous.


'Yonder the jaguar came, bounding
along on my track, smelling the ground
every now and then, like pointer dog,
and then setting up that appalling roar
that no man can hear without his flesh
creeping. That's fact, sir-whether
the man is afraid O. not, it's curious and
we'll known effect of the iaguar's roar that
it makes TIE nerves tingle in that Tay that
we call hesh-ereeping.


"Whel he had got within about fifty
rods ofthe tree he seemed to lose the
track. He got off to one side, and paus-
ed, uncertain. He put his nose to the
ground, shifting eagerly, and dashng
around at last in fierce fury of rage at
having lost my trail. He lashed his body