HUNTING THE JAGUAR 39 



barefooted, but they could see; by that I mean 

 they had the trained eye of the lynx, and at a 

 glance could distinguish the dull mottled body 

 of the deadly labaria snake from the branches 

 and roots that it so closely resembled. But the 

 sense of the two Indians was still more keen than 

 that of the bushmen. They seemed to possess 

 the very craft of the dwellers of the wild and 

 why not? They were of them. John Charley 

 could observe the footsteps of the game when 

 the alien eye could not discern the slightest 

 vestige. 



It was with no little difficulty I followed these 

 fellows through the woods, as they quietly and 

 apparently with the greatest ease threaded their 

 way, and must confess I was quite ashamed of 

 the noise I made lumbering along. There would 

 be plenty of opportunity for practice, however, 

 and surely I must improve a little. About two 

 miles were covered and to me they seemed much 

 more for I was already beginning to tire, and 

 there was no life in the hot, murky air. Between 

 the dew and perspiration I was quite wet through, 

 and after picking up a couple of thorns, having 

 my hat brushed off a few more times, I was com- 

 mencing to feel like a novice. At just about this 

 juncture John Charley pointed down to the 



