HUNTING THE JAGUAR 93 



to my shoulder, took careful aim and fired. The 

 claws relaxed their hold; slowly the great body 

 rolled over and fell into the midst of the frenzied 

 pack. But, before I could take a forward step, 

 the huge cat had leaped to its feet I had aimed 

 too high: the bullet penetrating the upper part 

 of the shoulder. Into the wild melee I dared 

 not fire, though my soul sickened at each light- 

 ning stroke of those terrible paws. 



At last my moment came for an instant the 

 dogs drew back. Before they could again rush 

 in, my second bullet crashed through his brain. 



The cattle-killer had paid his debt many lives 

 had he asked now he had paid with his own. 



He was a male in splendid condition, and the 

 tape showed him to be six feet ten inches in 

 length. The day was fast declining, so we hastily 

 started back through the waving, bending sea of 

 grass for the ranch. 



The sun was just going to rest after a terrific 

 day's work, trying to burn up the world. The 

 western sky was aflame with gold and crimson, 

 while the fire-bolts leaped to the world below. 

 Then the sun went lurid down. Slowly came the 

 evening's changes, softly falls the mellow twi- 

 light, until the waning light has fled then every- 

 where stalks the mystic night. 



