THE STORY OF THE JAGUAR. 



Once, when in South America, I witnessed an entire village thrown into 

 a state of terror by a jaguar. The animal had been without food for many 

 days, and starvation had made it desperate. It descended upon the village 

 at night, and while prowling around in search of human prey it entered a 

 church, the door of which stood upon. 



Early in the morning a priest entered the building when the gaunt and 

 famished creature sprang upon him, killing him instantly. A second priest 

 who followed soon after met the same fate, but a third, warned by the deep 

 growls and the horrible sound made by the animal in crunching the bones 

 of his victims, made his escape and gave the alarm. 



In a few moments a large force of natives assembled and surrounded 

 the church, but no one dared to enter, for it was impossible to locate the 

 position of the beast. Finally a venturesome hunter and myself climbed 

 to the top of the building and removed a portion of the roof. We saw 

 the fierce animal crouched over the prostrate body of a priest, which was 

 so frightfully mangled that there was no question the victim was dead. The 

 eyes of the jaguar were shining like balls of green fire. The native hunter 

 and I fired together. My bullet struck the murderous beast in 'the right 

 eye and the other shot hit him just behind a fore leg. Then the natives rushed 

 in and vented their rage on his dead carcass. 



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