Part 19 (1/2)
THE HUNT CONTINUED; ONE OF THE HUNTERS ALMOST CONCLUDED. EXPLORATIONS INDULGED IN, AND A CAPTURE EFFECTED.
”Dar, ma.s.sa, dar he is,” exclaimed Quashy, in a hoa.r.s.e whisper, pointing into the bushes.
”Nonsense, man,” replied Lawrence, in a low voice, ”it's only an ant-hill.”
Even in that moment of excitement, Lawrence could scarce refrain from laughter at the face of his humble follower, for Quashy's business in life had not accustomed him to much sport at any time; and the prospect of actually a.s.sisting at the slaughter of a jaguar or a puma had stirred every nerve and fibre of his black being into intense excitation, so that his eyes and nostrils were dilated to the utmost, and he panted vehemently--with hope, of course, not fear!
Tiger, on the contrary, was cool and calm, though watchful. He paid no attention whatever to his companions, being too well acquainted with his work to stand in need of either advice or a.s.sistance from them.
As guide, the savage occupied the bow of the canoe; Lawrence sat in the middle, and Quashy in the stern, for he understood how to steer. Having been admonished to hold his tongue, he crouched so as, if possible, to diminish his size. He also pursed his lips,--and what a tight rounding and projecting of superfluous flesh that pursing was no tongue can adequately tell. He also glared, and this ”talking with the eyes” was a mute sermon in itself.
Yet no jaguar could be seen. Silently, with dip of paddle that made no sound, and glide of craft through the water that produced only an oily ripple, they slowly ascended the stream.
At first Lawrence had seized his fowling-piece, which was charged with ball for the occasion; but as time pa.s.sed, and the Indian showed no intention of landing, he laid the gun down, and again took up his paddle.
After a time, through some inadvertence of Quashy, the canoe was sent rather close in among the reeds and giant leaves of the bank.
”That was stupid of you, Quash,” said Lawrence, as he stood up to a.s.sist Tiger in backing out.
”Das true, ma.s.sa,” said the negro, in profoundest humility of self-condemnation, ”I's a black idjit.”
As the fore part of the canoe had touched on a mudbank, Lawrence seized one of the Indian's lances, and used the b.u.t.t end as a pole with which to push off. Under this impulse the canoe was gradually sliding into deep water, when a rustling of the leaves was heard, and next instant a full-sized jaguar sprang upon the Indian with cat-like agility. Whether the brute had slipped on the muddy bank we cannot say, but it missed its aim, and, instead of alighting on the shoulders of the man, it merely struck him on the head with one of its paws in pa.s.sing, and went with a tremendous splash into the water.
Tiger fell forward insensible from the severe scalp-wound inflicted.
Next instant the jaguar rose, grasped the edge of the canoe, and almost overturned it as it strove to climb in; and there is no doubt that in another moment it would have succeeded, for the attack was so sudden that Quashy sat paralysed, while Lawrence forgot his pistols, and his gun lay in the bottom of the canoe! Happily, however, he recovered enough of presence of mind to use the lance in his hands. Turning the point of the weapon to the jaguar's mouth, he thrust it in with such tremendous force that it pa.s.sed right down its throat and into its very vitals. With a gasping snarl the monster fell back into the stream, and was quickly drowned as well as impaled.
”Help me to haul him on board,” cried Lawrence.
Thus awakened, the negro, relieving his feelings by giving vent to a roar which partook somewhat of a cheer, seized the jaguar's tail. His master grasped its ears, and in another moment it lay in the bottom of the canoe.
”Now, help to lay the poor fellow beside it,” said Lawrence.
”O ma.s.sa!--he not dead, eh?” groaned the negro, as he a.s.sisted in the work.
”No; nor likely to die yet a while,” replied Lawrence, with much satisfaction, as he examined and bound up the scalp-wound. ”It is not deep; he'll soon come round; but we must get him home without delay.
Out with your paddle, Quashy, and use it well. I'll take the bow.”
The canoe, which, during these proceedings, had been floating slowly down stream, was now turned in the right direction, and in a short time was out upon the larger river.
Here, however, they had to labour with energy against the stream, and it was far on in the afternoon before they came in sight of the Indian's hut. By that time Spotted Tiger had partially recovered, as Lawrence observed during a pause made for rest. On reaching an eddy, which carried the canoe in the right direction, they rested again. The cessation of paddling appeared to rouse the wounded man, for he sat up, and, with a half-dazed look, stared at the head of the dead jaguar, on the haunch of which his elbow leaned. Then he cast an inquiring look at Lawrence, who replied to him with a nod and a smile, and went on to indicate, by means of pantomime, what had occurred.
He pointed to the animal's claws, and to Tiger's head; then to the b.l.o.o.d.y spear which lay at his side, and to the jaguar's blood-stained throat, after which he pointed to his own breast and nodded again.
The Indian evidently understood him, for an expression of grat.i.tude overspread his countenance as he extended his right hand--English fas.h.i.+on--for a shake. Our hero was not slow to grasp it, and the two exchanged a squeeze which told of lasting friends.h.i.+p and good-will.
A few minutes later, and the canoe was run upon the bank in front of the hut, where all the children were a.s.sembled to receive them.
It did not seem as if any of the family were deeply affected by the shaky appearance of the father as he stepped on sh.o.r.e, but the younger members evinced feelings of intense delight when the jaguar was lifted out; and two of them, seizing the tail as a tow-rope, pa.s.sed it over their shoulders, and dragged the carca.s.s up to the hut to show it to their mother.
O mothers! loving repositories of childhood's joys and woes, ye are unquestionably the same in substance and in spirit all the world over!