276 HUNTING IN THE JUNGLE. 



" The Indians, true to their nature, swore revenge, and 

 I remained a few days to see how they would accomplish 

 it. The mighty hunters of the tribe arrayed themselves 

 in sacks, in skins, and in coverings of leaves and moss, 

 and lay in wait in the meadow among the dead sheep, 

 and the squaws covered them over so completely they 

 could hardly breathe, during the thirty hours they had 

 to remain in hiding. All this time, of course, they were 

 without food. But the second day, toward noon, the 

 cat appeared; and we, in the huts, watched with eager 

 eyes his stealthy advance from bush to bush. As soon 

 as he reached the pasture he stopped, sniffing the air 

 and glancing in every direction to see if he was observed. 

 To make more sure he climbed a tree, and sat there 

 watching several minutes. Seeing nothing he sprang at 

 a bound to the earth to resume his gorge. Immediately 

 the Indians were up, and twenty arrows laid the thief 

 low. He fell without a cry, and the hunters began a 

 mad dance around his body, while the shouts and songs 

 of the children and squaws showed the joy felt in the 

 success of the ruse. The village divided the meat, which 

 is too rank and gamey for me, and, with a little rum 

 from my stores, made a wild night of it." 



Seeing my interest in his stories, the American offered 

 to tell me some curious adventures with bears, and dur- 

 ing the next few days he amused me with those you 

 will find in the next chapter. 



