Part 34 (2/2)
He was seen to adjust an arrow into the tube, and then raise the gravatana to his lips Strange to say, he did not hold it as we do a co the tube On the contrary, both hands were held nearly together, at the lower end, and close to histube steady in this way It is, indeed, a very difficult thing, and much practice alone can accomplish it As they watched him narrowly, his chest was seen to expand, his cheeks rose with a strong ”puff,” and soe of the little arrow out of the tube
However thisin the side of one of the reat beak, and trying to pull it out In this it appeared to have succeeded after a short while, for so fell from the tree It was the shaft with its cotton ”boss” that fell down The point, broken off where it had been notched, was still in the body of the bird, and was infusing the deadly venom into its veins In about two an to stagger It then fell over, still clutching the branch with its strong, prehensile claws; but after hanging a round It was quite dead
Long before it caiven a fresh puff through it, wounding a second of the macaws Then another arroas chosen, and another victim, until several had been shot, and the creatures upon the tree could be seen in all stages of dying So the wound, uttered a cry and flew off, but the poison soon brought thereat distance froth Guapo was seen to desist, and walk boldly out fro macaws, of which there were still six or seven upon the tree, showed no fear of him, nor did they attempt to fly away! This was explained, however, by their subsequent conduct; for in a few seconds round, until not a single bird was left upon the tree All of theun!
Leon now ran out to assist Guapo in gathering his gaht couple of them in all, and they were all quite dead--so, and others through the body None of the the wound Such is the quickness hich the ”curare” does its work!
As a hunting instruaravatana to any other; and with good reason Had Guapo been ar-piece, he would have shot one macaw, or perhaps a pair, and then the rest would have uttered a tantalising screaht have h tree, such as that on which they had alit, it is no easy ravatana throws its arrow to a height of from thirty to forty yards, and the least touch is sufficient to do the business Its silence, moreover, enables the hunter to repeat the shot, until several head of game reward his skill The Indians use it with most effect in a vertical or upward direction; and they are always surer to kill a bird with it when perched on a high tree, than when seated on a low shrub or on the ground
As we have observed that the curare can be taken inwardly without any danger, it will be evident to all that game killed by the poisoned arrows may be eaten with safety Indeed, there are many epicures in South America who prefer it in this way; and when a chicken is wanted for the table, these people require that it should be killed by an arrow dipped in curare
CHAPTER XX
THE MILK-TREE
Guapo kept his promise with the tapir, and on that very saht in, little Leona, who had been straying down by the water's edge, ca back to the house, and in breathless haste cried out, ”Ma!”
”Where, ree of anxiety, for she fancied that the child
”In the water,” replied Leona; ”areat lillies”
”It's the tapir,” cried Leon ”Carra histhe feathers fly in all directions
”Where, senorita?” he asked, addressing little Leona
”Down below,” replied the child; ”near the edge of the river”
Guapo seized his gravatana, and crouched doards the bank, with Leon at his heels On nearing the water, he stopped; and, with his body half-bent, looked down strea with his body half out of the water, and pulling up the roots of the flags with his great teeth and long moveable snout It was not likely he would return to his for, no doubt, that all the danger lay upon the opposite shore, he had come to this side to brohile
Guapo cautioned Leon to re upon his belly, proceeded along the bank In a fewmore of him, kept his eyes sharply fixed upon the tapir
The latter re for about ten ive a little start Perhaps, thought he, he has heard Guapo aood ears--and that hat caused hi for a h evidently not with as erness as before
Presently he stopped a second time, and seemed undetermined as to whether he should not turn and take to the clear water In this way he hesitated for several an to rock froe, he fell heavily backward,the waves undulate on all sides of him The arrow had done its work--he was dead!
A loud shout froing forward to the dead tapir, which the nexttowards the bank He was here met by the whole party, all of ere anxious to see this rare and singular creature Ropes were soon attached to the legs, and Guapo, assisted by Don Pablo and Leon, drew the huge carcass out upon the shore; and dragged it up to the house
Guapo at once skinned it, carefully preserving the hide to ht all of them tried a ”tapir-steak” for supper All, however, Guapo alone excepted, preferred the flesh of the purple macahich, cooked as they ith onions and red pepper, were excellent eating, particularly for Spanish-American palates Guapo had all the tapir to himself
The bamboo palm-house was now quite finished, and several articles of furniture too--for during the nights both Don Pablo and his trusty s You will, no doubt, be asking where they procured lights,--will you not? I shall tell you One of the loftiest and rew in these very parts, for the lower slopes of the Andes are its favourite habitat Out of its trunk exudes hich has only to be scraped off and made into candles, that burn as well as those made of the wax of bees Indeed, the ious ceree use of these palm-candles