The Puma 299 



the collar, and killed. Afterwards he climbed a tree, and 

 while the servants shut themselves up in their apartments, 

 stretched himself out on a limb, and looked down upon the 

 mangled remains of his victim. No doubt the ferocious 

 feelings of his nature were all aroused, and unfortunately- 

 just at that time a man rode through the stone passage 

 that in this country serves as a front door. Then the 

 puma came down and flew at him, springing on to the 

 croup of his horse, and wounding, though slightly, both it 

 and its rider. The man being a nervous person, lost his 

 head entirely, and not satisfied with making himself safe 

 in a room whose door was opened to him, must needs fire 

 out of the window with a carbine he found in the apart- 

 ment. Some people become demented at the sight of 

 their own blood, and this was one of them. He held 

 straight, however, and the ball shattered the animal's 

 right shoulder and passed backwards into his body. Gato 

 had got, between two great roots of the tree when his 

 friend arrived, and that saved him from another shot. 

 The creature was desperate, but too intelligent not to 

 know that he who approached had no part in what he 

 suffered. It was a mortal wound, but death promised to 

 be delayed till that splendid frame was wasted by morbid 

 processes and his life was gasped out in agony. This 

 was not to be endured. The hand of affection did him 

 the last good ofifice, and he died instantly. 



Pumas do not charge men in masses. Their victims are 

 chosen among those creatures they find alone. Individ- 

 uals have sometimes been assailed by more than one. Im 

 Thurn asserts that the "Warracaba tigers" of Guiana, 



