THE JAGUAR. 403 



turning round he discovered a jaguar stealthily approaching. 

 His friends, as he tlid not return, set out in search of him. 

 For a whole day they searched in vain ; but on the second 

 they discovered his foot-tracks, and those of a large jaguar. 

 Following these for a long way in anxious suspense, they at 

 length came to a spot where there were marks of a conflict, 

 and they discovered their comrade's bow lying- broken on the 

 ground. Still it was apparent that the Indian had beaten 

 off his assailant, for the tracks of both led still further into 

 the forest. At length they reached the scene of the last 

 desperate struggle. On the ground lay the man's knife, 

 which he had lashed to the end of a stick ; but it had been 

 loosened and turned aside against the tough hide of the ani- 

 mal. From the marks on a tree it was evident that the poor 

 fellow, in dire extremity, at the approach of night, had been 

 trying to climb it, but ere he had ascended ten feet the 

 jaguar had sprung after him, and pulling him down, had torn 

 him to pieces. The remains, terribly mangled and half- 

 devoured, lay near. One of the Caribs who had found the 

 body described the sickness which came over him at the 

 sight, and remarked that he had never since felt secure when 

 traversing the forest with only his knife and bow and arrows. 

 On the banks of the Pomaroon lived a Carib family, with 

 a number of small children. The young ones had gone into 

 the water to bathe, when they were startled by the cry of 

 the smallest of their party a little boy whom they had left- 

 seated at the water's edge. On looking round they beheld a huge 

 jaguar which had been attracted by their noises of splashing, 

 and which, having come behind the poor child, was standing 

 with one paw on his shoulder. The elder children, screaming 

 for help, attempted bravely to drive away the savage beast, 



