HUNTING THE JAGUAR. 105 



and in a circle, so that we had but little difficulty in 

 bringing it to the ground. We shot a number of wild 

 cattle out of a herd, near the edge of a broad and open 

 valley, and thus obtained an abundance of fresh meat ; 

 but after a week's travel we were somewhat disappointed 

 in the sport afforded by the game of these forests. Mr. 

 Barrill expressed his disappointment, and I agreed with 

 him. After some discussion with the guide, we deter- 

 mined to return to Bio, and then proceed to Buenos 

 Ayre^s. The guide insisted on the exciting character of 

 the Brazilian sport, but we had experienced the thrilling 

 excitement of hunting on the prairie, and gave him a very 

 decided expression of our non-assent. 



On the third day of our return joiirney, however, we 

 had a taste of peril. About daybreak, I detected an 

 animal prowling near the camp, which the guide pro- 

 nounced a large jaguar. Our horses and mules evinced 

 their knowledge of the proximity of danger by neighing, 

 snorts, and starts. A moment more, and one of them 

 might have been writhing beneath the claws of the fierce 

 monster. The guide advanced cautiously to the attack ; 

 and just as the jaguar was about to spring upon the 

 nearest horse, fired. The shot was effective, and the 

 animal, with a horrid growl, limped away through the 

 bushes. All gave chase Mr. Barrill saw an opportunity 

 for a shot in the rear, and fired, when the jaguar fell back 



