DOGS ATTACKED BY A PUMA 271 



touched land than the dogs sprang on shore and bounded 

 up the bank barking furiously. To our astonishment 

 they came back howling and running as fast as they 

 could, closely pursued by a large puma. So intent was 

 he on the dogs that he took no notice of the boats, the 

 smaller one of which he actually reached at the same 

 moment that he struck Meoro, the large dog, tearing the 

 skin off his ribs, and very nearly killing him. Pancho 

 pluckily hit him over the head with his paddle, and it 

 was only then that he found out his mistake and bolted 

 back into the forest. The whole incident was the affair 

 of a few seconds. None of us had time to get one of the 

 guns out of the boat. Some of the men, headed by ' the 

 Pirate ' carrying my Winchester, started in pursuit, ably 

 assisted by the dogs, who felt they had protection and 

 were eager for revenge. They did not, however, succeed 

 in coming up with the puma, who, after the shock he had 

 received, had evidently made up his mind to put a good 

 bit of country between the boats and himself. 



We came across two hosoiho trees laden with fruit over- 

 hanging the river. Eamon climbed one and Laureano the 

 other, and while they stayed above eating they shook the 

 branches so that quantities of fruit fell into the water. 

 We must have spent an hour under these trees. As it 

 was getting late we encamped close by on a steep patch 

 of sand, the only spot we could find fit for camping. 

 To-day we passed the last of the several Indian ranclios 

 seen on the journey. After dark, Laureano and Maite 

 fished and one of them caught an Aijmara, which they 

 roasted. If we only had salt ! I find any game or fish 

 we get so loathsome devoid of salt or any condiment. 

 What an awful thing it is to be craving for some necessary 

 to which our systems have become accustomed ! How 



