72 BIG GAME FIELDS 



the proper arm to use in the thick jungle, as al- 

 most invariahly the shooting was close up; and, 

 too, in the case of following up a wounded 

 jaguar, it gave opportunity for quicker action. 

 And so, much to my dismay, I had brought the 

 shotgun. How, for just that fraction of a sec- 

 ond, my thoughts turned longingly to the old 

 rifle; for the distance, though not great, was still 

 too far to shoot with any degree of certainty of 

 killing with such an arm. "Better take a chance, 

 while I have it, even if it is a slim one," I thought. 

 At any moment the crafty fellow might, with a 

 single bound, disappear and perhaps I should 

 never again catch a glimpse of his beautifully 

 spotted hide. I intended, after shooting the first 

 barrel, to instantly shoot the second, even if I had 

 to make a wing shot while he was in the air, so to 

 speak; but there was no chance. At the instant 

 of the first shot he had vanished with a wild 

 leap that was so lightning-like that the eye could 

 scarce follow. 



Reloading and slipping to the ground, I 

 paused at the butt of the tree to catch the slight- 

 est sound or movement. There was neither. 

 Then out along the Mora log, with the gun at 

 the ready, I stepped cautiously along. A big 

 lizard went scuttling over some dead leaves. Up 



