The Forest Exiles: The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

by Mayne Reid

  CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

  A FAMILY OF JAGUARS.

  As yet none of the exiles had seen any tracks or indications of theterrible jaguar, and Don Pablo began to believe that there were none inthat district of country. He was not allowed to remain much longer inthis belief, for an incident occurred shortly after proving that atleast one pair of these fierce animals was not far off.

  It was near the end of the summer, and the cinchona-trees on the side ofthe river on which stood the house had been all cut down and "barked."It became necessary, therefore, to cross the stream in search of others.Indeed, numerous "manchas" had been seen on the other side, and tothese the "cascarilleros" now turned their attention. They, of course,reached them by crossing the tree-bridge, and then keeping up the streamon the farther side.

  For several days they had been at work in this new direction, and weregetting bark in by the hundredweight.

  One day Guapo and Leon had gone by themselves--Guapo to fell the treesas usual, and Leon, who was now an expert bark-peeler, to use thescalping-knife. Don Pablo had remained at home, busy with work in thegreat magazine, for there was much to do there in the packing andstoring.

  An hour or two after, Guapo was seen to return alone. He had broken thehandle of his axe, and, having several spare ones at the house, he hadreturned to get one. Leon had remained in the woods.

  Now Leon had finished his operations on such trees as Guapo had alreadycut down, and not finding a good seat near, had walked towards theprecipice which was farther up the hill, and sat down upon one of theloose rocks at its base. Here he amused himself by watching the parrotsand toucans that were fluttering through the trees over his head.

  He noticed that just by his side there was a large hole or cave in thecliff. He could see to the farther end of it from where he sat, butcuriosity prompted him to step up to its mouth, and give it a closerexamination. On doing so, he heard a noise, not unlike the mew of acat. It evidently came from the cave, and only increased his curiosityto look inside. He put his head to the entrance, and there, in a sortof nest, upon the bottom of the cave, he perceived two creatures,exactly like two spotted kittens, only larger. They were about half asbig as full-grown cats.

  "_Two_ beauties!" said Leon to himself; "they are the kittens of somewild cat--that's plain. Now we want a cat very much at home. If thesewere brought up in the house, why shouldn't they do? I'll warrantthey'd be tame enough. I know mamma wants a cat. I've heard her sayso. I'll give her an agreeable surprise by taking this pair home.--Thebeauties!"

  Without another word Leon climbed up, and taking hold of the two spottedanimals, returned with them out of the cave. They were evidently veryyoung creatures, yet for all that they growled, and spat, and attemptedto scratch his hands; but Leon was not a boy to be frightened attrifles, and after getting one under each arm, he set off in triumph,intending to carry them direct to the house.

  Guapo was in front of the house busy in new-hafting his axe. Don Pablowas at his work in the store-room. Dona Isidora and the little Leonawere occupied with some affair in the porch. All were engaged one wayor other. Just then a voice sounded upon their ears, causing them allto stop their work, and look abroad. It even brought Don Pablo out ofthe store-house. It was the voice of Leon, who shouted from the otherside of the lake, where they all saw him standing, with a strange objectunder each arm.

  "Hola!" cried he. "Look, mamma! See what I've got! I've brought you acouple of cats--beauties, ain't they?" And as he said this, he held thetwo yellow bodies out before him.

  Don Pablo turned pale, and even the coppery cheek of Guapo blanched atthe sight. Though at some distance, both knew at a glance what theywere. Cats, indeed! _They were the cubs of the jaguar_!

  "My God!" cried Don Pablo, hoarse with affright. "My God! the boy willbe lost!" and as he spoke he swept the upper edge of the lake with ananxious glance.

  "Run, little master!" shouted Guapo. "Run for your life; make for thebridge--for the bridge!"

  Leon seemed astonished. He knew by the words of Guapo, and the earnestgestures of the rest, that there was some danger:--but of what? Why washe to run? He could not comprehend it. He hesitated, and might havestayed longer on the spot, had not his father, seeing his indecision,shouted out to him in a loud voice--

  "Run, boy! run! The jaguars are after you!"

  This speech enabled Leon to comprehend his situation for the first time,and he immediately started off towards the bridge, running as fast as hewas able.

  Don Pablo had not seen the jaguars when he spoke, but his words wereprophetic, and that prophecy was speedily verified. They had hardlybeen uttered when two yellow bodies, dashing out of the brushwood,appeared near the upper end of the lake. There was no mistaking whatthey were. Their orange flanks and ocellated sides were sufficientlycharacteristic. _They were jaguars_!

  A few springs brought them to the edge of the water, and they were seento take the track over which Leon had just passed. They were followingby the scent--sometimes pausing--sometimes one passing the other--andtheir waving tails and quick energetic movements showed that they werefurious and excited to the highest degree. Now they disappeared behindthe palm-trunks, and the next moment their shining bodies shot out againlike flashes of light.

  Dona Isidora and the little Leona screamed with affright. Don Pabloshouted words of encouragement in a hoarse voice. Guapo seized hisaxe--which fortunately he had finished hafting--and ran towards thebridge, along the water's edge. Don Pablo followed with his pistols,which he had hastily got his hands upon.

  For a short moment there was silence on both sides of the river. Guapowas opposite Leon, both running. The stream narrowed as it approachedthe ravine, and Leon and Guapo could see each other, and hear every worddistinctly. Guapo now cried out--

  "Drop one! young master--_only one_!"

  Leon heard, and, being a sharp boy, understood what was meant. Up tothis moment he had not thought of parting with his "cats"--in fact, itwas because he had _not_ thought of it. Now, however, at the voice ofGuapo, he flung one of them to the ground, without stopping to see whereit fell, he ran on, and in a few seconds again heard Guapo cryout--"_Now the other_!"

  Leon let the second slip from his grasp, and kept on for the bridge.

  It was well he had dropped the cubs, else he would never have reachedthat bridge. When the first one fell the jaguars were not twenty pacesbehind him. They were almost in sight, but by good fortune the weedsand underwood hid the pursued from the pursuers.

  On reaching their young, the first that had been dropped, both stopped,and appeared to lick and caress it. They remained by it but a moment.One parted sooner than the other--the female it was, no doubt, in searchof her second offspring. Shortly after the other started also, and bothwere again seen springing along the trail in pursuit. A few stretchesbrought them to where the second cub lay, and here they again halted,caressing this one as they had done the other.

  Don Pablo and Dona Isidora, who saw all this from the other side, werein hopes that having recovered their young, the jaguars might give overthe chase, and carry them off. But they were mistaken in this. TheAmerican tiger is of a very different nature. Once enraged, he willseek revenge with relentless pertinacity. It so proved. After delayinga moment with the second cub, both left it, and sprang forward upon thetrail, which they knew had been taken by whoever had robbed them.

  By this time Leon had gained the bridge--had crossed it--and was liftedfrom its nearer end by Guapo. The latter scarce spoke a word--onlytelling Leon to hurry toward the house. For himself he had other workto do than run. The bridge he knew would be no protection. The jaguarswould cross over it like squirrels, and then--

  Guapo reflected no further, but bending over the thick branch, attackedit with his axe. His design was apparent at once. He was going to cutit from the cliff!

  He plied the axe with all his might. Every muscle in his body was atplay. Blow succeeded blow. The branch was
already creaking, when, tohis horror, the foremost of the jaguars appeared in sight on theopposite side! He was not discouraged. Again fell the axe--again andagain; the jaguar is upon the bank; it has sprung upon the root of thetree! It pauses a moment--another blow of the axe--the jaguar boundsupon the trunk--its claws rattle along the bark--it is midway over thechasm! Another blow--the branch crackles--there is a crash--it partsfrom the cliff--it is gone! Both tree and jaguar gone--down--down tothe sharp rocks of the foaming torrent!

  A loud yell from the Indian announced his triumph. But it was not yetcomplete. It was the female jaguar--the smaller one that had fallen.The male still remained--where was he? Already upon the opposite brinkof the chasm!

  He had dashed forward, just in time to see his mate disappearing intothe gulf below. He saw and seemed to comprehend, all that had passed.His eyes glared with redoubled fury. There was vengeance in his look,and determination in his attitude.

  For a moment he surveyed the wide gulf that separated him from hisenemies. He seemed to measure the distance at a glance. His heart wasbold with rage and despair. He had lost his companion--his faithfulpartner--his wife. Life was nothing now--he resolved upon revenge ordeath!

  He was seen to run a few paces back from the edge of the chasm, and thenturning suddenly, set his body for the spring.

  It would have been beautiful to have beheld the play of his glisteningflanks at that moment had one been out of danger; but Guapo was not, andhe had no pleasure in the sight. Guapo stood upon the opposite brink,axe in hand, ready to receive him.

  The Indian had not long to wait. With one desperate bound the jaguarlaunched his body into the air, and, like lightning, passed to theopposite bank. His fore-feet only reached it, and his claws firmlygrasped the rock. The rest of his body hung over, clutching the cliff!

  In a moment he would have sprung up, and then woe to his antagonist! buthe was not allowed that moment, for he had scarcely touched the rockwhen the Indian leaped forward and struck at his head with the axe. Theblow was not well aimed, and although it stunned the jaguar, he stillclung to the cliff. In setting himself for a second blow, Guapo cametoo near, and the next moment the great claws of the tiger were buriedin his foot!

  It is difficult to tell what might have been the result. It would, nodoubt, have been different. Guapo would have been dragged over, andthat was certain death; but at this moment a hand was protruded betweenGuapo's legs--the muzzle of a pistol was seen close to the head of thejaguar--a loud crack rang through the ravine, and when the smoke clearedaway the jaguar was seen no more!

  Guapo, with his foot badly lacerated, was drawn back from the cliff intothe arms of Don Pablo.