of an Orchid Hunter. 185 



edge of the lake where we expected to find our game 

 just as the first streaks of dawn were appearing. It 

 was evident by the signs of the dogs that the jaguars 

 had been prowling around, but we were obliged to 

 wait for more light. Very soon the deep footprints 

 in the sand showed us in what direction to go, and 

 half a mile of careful tracking around the ed^e of 

 the lake brought us in sight of the jaguar. Then 

 we dodged in amongst the bushes, keeping ourselves 

 and the dogs as much under cover as possible, until by 

 making a short cut we came down upon the beautiful 

 animal at a distance of not more than twenty yards. 

 It eyed us curiously for a moment, and then went off 

 with a peculiar motion, like the action of a horse 

 trotting, but we had the dogs in full cry at once. The 

 jaguar went straight for the thick forest, but did 

 not go far before the dogs came up with it, when 

 it turned on its haunches and prepared to fight. It 

 was wise for us to keep at a safe distance, to avoid the 

 now infuriated animal springing upon us, and it was 

 difficult to shoot for fear of hitting the dogs. After ten 

 minutes of desperate fighting the jaguar made a bound 

 for the nearest tree, where it was out of the way of the 

 dogs. I aimed a ball at the heart, but only broke the 

 shoulder. However, this brought it again to the 

 ground, and, mad with pain, it made a desperate 

 spring at one of the natives, and came very near 



