ANOTHER OF THE CAT FAMILY. 273 



He did this perfectly, but so loud did it sound in the now 

 silent forest — for the jaguar's cry had ceased instantly — 

 that I could not help fearing he had scared away the 

 prize. 



'^' Do not believe it," said Thursday. "These fellows 

 know what they are about, and you will see the brute 

 drop upon our friend in a few minutes, like a stroke of 

 lightning." 



''But the poor fellow has no arms. lie will be killed." 



Thursday shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, as if 

 "who cares?" 



Hardly had he finished when the native uttered a 

 piercing shriek, and a terrible hand-to-hand struggle 

 began in the tree-top. The jaguar had approached 

 silently, by light bounds from branch to branch, and 

 when within reach made one last one upon the sup- 

 posed monkey. Great confusion reigned. The natives 

 rushed frantically roimd the base of the tree, trying to 

 lasso the beast, when they caught sight of his spotted 

 hide through the leaves. Finally one more skilful than 

 the rest caught his noose around the hind quarters of 

 the jaguar, and brought him down limb by limb, but 

 directly upon himself. We could not get a shot with- 

 out killing the man ; and his friends, whose lassos would 

 have done good service, fled incontinently and left him 

 to his fate. The jaguar, fortunately, was well held, and 

 every frantic bound he made to free himself tightened 

 the noose and slowly strangled him. Watching our 



18 



