112 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



closely by his second, and kneeling on one 

 knee, plants the butt of both spears firmly 

 against that knee, and directs the points 

 towards the beast ready for his spring. The 

 man with the gun or the bow stands close 

 over him, and fires at the panther just as he 

 takes the last spring : sometimes the shot is 

 enough to stop him, especially if hit in the 

 centre of the head or in the neck ; but, if 

 not, the animal gives a tremendous roar, and 

 makes a furious spring at his assailants ; and 

 now comes the nervous part of the conflict. 

 Should the panther spring with his fore-legs 

 wide apart, as he almost invariably does, 

 there is not much danger ; as he spits liim- 

 self with the longest spear, and often with 

 the shorter one also, and the hunter may 

 remain without any fear quite close to him ; 

 but, which sometimes but rarely happens, 

 the tiger springs with his forelegs close or 

 crossed, he will then with a blow of his paw 

 break or turn away the stoutest lance, and 

 in such a case the hunter is in what is called 

 a considerable fix. The only remedy, then, 

 is to fight it out with the machete^ or any 

 other arms at hand. A short account of one 

 of these hunts will best explain the way of 

 proceeding, and, as it in every particular so 



