IN THE AMERICAN DESERT 125 



natural slowness allowed, towards the shelter of the cliffs, 

 taking care to keep itself hidden as it went in the long 

 grass. But the peccary, coming galloping along with 

 her nose on the ground, almost tumbled over it before 

 she was aware, and both parties drew back and pre- 

 pared for battle. For a minute or two they eyed each 

 other ; the peccary drew back and then came on with a 

 sudden rush, ending with a spring high into the air, 

 which brought her straight on the moccason's back. It 

 was a most curious form of attack, for no sooner had the 

 peccary alighted on the back of the snake, with all its 

 four paws pressed closely together, than it bounded off 

 again. This was repeated two or three times, and then 

 she sprang right on the head of the moccason, breaking 

 its neck on the ground by the pressure of its claws. 

 Once more the thicket sounded with the cry of victory, 

 and the peccary, calling to her young ones, who had taken 

 no part in the battle, ran up to the snake, which she 

 skinned very neatly with her tusks and teeth, before 

 eating the flesh for supper. 



But she had not very long to enjoy herself with her 

 family, before she was disturbed. Through the weeds 

 and jungle which grew up to a short distance of the bare 

 spot where the combat between the peccary and the 

 moccason had taken place, came stealing softly a beast 

 with a long thin red body, and a head like a cat. It was 

 the fierce and tree-climbing cougar. 



The peccary went on with her supper, quite uncon- 

 scious that she was being watched by her deadliest enemy, 

 who was calculating his chances of making a successful 

 spring upon her back, for he knew too well what a 

 peccary's tusks were like to wish for an encounter with 

 them. Apparently he decided that the leap was too great 

 for his powers, so he turned stealthily back and ran up 

 a tree which cast its shade over the group of peccaries. 

 Then, gathering himself together, he uttered a battle cry, 

 and leapt straight on her neck. 



