224 
THE STORY OF THE TAPIR. 
tall reeds. The terrified tapir was running toward some thick underbrush, 
evidently with the hope of dislodging the jaguar. The big cat had fastened 
its teeth in the back of the tapir’s neck, but had not reached a vital spot. 
If the tapir could succeed in reaching the thick undergrowth it possibly 
could scrape the jaguar off its back. Myself and my men followed as fast 
as we could. Once I thought the tapir would shake the jaguar off, but the 
latter got a fresh grip with its jaws, this time on the under part of the tapir’s 
neck. 
Just as they reached the edge of the thick underbrush, the poor tapir 
fell upon its knees with the jaguar still clinging to its throat and drinking 
A SOUTH AMERICAN MOUNTAIN TAPIR. 
its life blood. The rest of the struggle was brief, and the tapir quickly 
succumbed. 
The jaguar had been so intent upon its prey that it had neither seen nor 
heard us. But now that the battle was over, it was more alert, and a slight 
motion of the reeds made by one of my native hunters attracted its attention. 
It raised its head, stained with the tapir’s blood, and uttered its characteristic 
snarl. 
I did not wish to take any chances on such a magnificent animal escaping 
me, and as its head was raised I fired and my bullet found its brain* 
