II 



HUNTING THE JAGUAR 



PART II UP THE ESSEQUIBO RIVER 



ONE afternoon, coming out of the thicket into 

 a small opening, I stopped short as I caught 

 sight of a labaria snake, about five feet long, 

 lying at full length only a couple of steps in 

 front of me. He was apparently sleeping away 

 the long, stifling hours of the day, while the sun 

 full upon him seemed to be to his liking. Great 

 chance of a picture, thought I, and straightway 

 the camera recorded the scene. But as I stood ad- 

 justing another film I felt myself being quickly 

 drawn backward by one of the men, and then saw 

 the reptile had suddenly become very much awake, 

 and with quick-darting head raised and arched, 

 he looked hideous and menacing. There could be 

 no doubt he meant to resent our presence ; though 

 he did not shorten the distance between us, he 

 showed no signs of retreating ; in fact, his attitude 

 made me believe he was more inclined to come 

 on. But at this very moment John Charley's 



S3 



