128 BIG GAME FIELDS 



crest of the rise, arose against the moon-lit sky- 

 line, stood motionless for a long time, then de- 

 scended in the darkness. Under the matted roof 

 of the jungle and through its column aisles of 

 cathedral silence prowled the great beast far into 

 the night. 



It may have been toward the small hours of 

 morning that the spotted prowler of the night 

 approached a small opening amid the darkly en- 

 folding jungle. A little patch of yellow, moon- 

 lit grass surrounded a shrunken pool, while all 

 around the giant mora trees reared their great 

 dark trunks aloft, and stretched out their many 

 arms, that were interwoven with clinging vines 

 and creepers, casting a black and impenetrable 

 shadow thereabout. Under the trees the air was 

 damp and chill. Some small animal, suddenly 

 startled, passed into the moonlit grass, and van- 

 ished. It was a silent, lone and dismal spot. The 

 jaguar crept into the shadows beyond the pool, 

 where he paused. His long, tawny form might 

 easily have been taken for one of the lurking 

 shadows. 



For a long time there was no sound ; then came 

 a faint rustling; another pause; not until many 

 slow minutes dropped by did the crackle of un- 

 dergrowth and brushing of grass grow sharper 



