116 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



him to at least four feet depth or length, but 

 with one blow from his powerful fore-paw, he 

 broke the lance off near his body as easily as 

 if it had been a carrot ; but as his spring had 

 been stopped, and the three hunters had 

 jumped aside, they could watch him in com- 

 parative safety, as he could not turn to fol- 

 low them. He at length slowly, and with 

 difficulty, got round, but not ten yards from 

 the hunters, who took the opportunity to load 

 again ; and he then tried to gain the shelter 

 of a bush in the centre of the hill top ; there 

 he laid down, but very slowly, as every 

 movement must have given him very great 

 pain ; but when he was well sheltered under 

 the bush, he gave every now and then a very 

 peculiar cry, which was nothing like his com- 

 mon roar ; but as the old Indian said, was 

 crying for help from his female, and was re- 

 calling her to his assistance, but she came 

 not ; and for a very good reason, for had she 

 heard him, no doubt she would have flown to 

 him. Blood was flowing from the animal's 

 mouth and nostrils ; his cry got weaker and 

 weaker ; he tried in his suffocation to rise, 

 but could not, for his strength was gone, 

 though vitality remained some minutes more ; 

 and at length he laid his head between his 



