CHAPTER SEVEN.
THE CHASE OF THE JAGUAR.
The sun was gradually inclining towards the horizon, when a prolongedhowl, shrill at first, but ending in a hoarse roar, fell upon the earsof the two adventurers. It appeared to come from a brake some distancedown the river; but, near or distant, it at once changed the expressionupon the countenance of the negro. Fear took the place of astonishment;and, on hearing the sound, he sprang suddenly to his feet.
"_Jesus Maria_!" exclaimed he, "it is the jaguar again!"
"Well, what if it be?" said Costal, who had neither risen, nor made theslightest gesture.
"The jaguar!" repeated the negro in his terror.
"The jaguar? You are mistaken," said Costal.
"God grant that I may be," rejoined the black, beginning to hope thatthe sounds had deceived him.
"You are mistaken as to the number," coolly proceeded Costal. "There isnot one jaguar, but four--if you include the _cachorros_!"
Perceiving the sense in which Costal meant he was mistaken, the negro,with terror gleaming in his eyes, appeared as if about to start offtowards the hacienda.
"Take care what you do!" said the Indian, apparently inclined to amusehimself with the fears of his companion. "It is quite true, I believe,that these animals are very fond of black men's flesh."
"_Carrambo_! just now you told me the contrary?"
"Well, perhaps I am mistaken upon that point; but one thing I knowwell--for I have proved it a hundred times--that is, that a brace oftigers, when the male and female are together, seldom roar in thatfashion--especially if they suspect the presence of a human being. Itis more likely, therefore, that at this moment they are separated; andby going towards the hacienda, you might risk getting between the two."
"Heaven preserve me from getting into such a scrap," muttered the negro.
"Well, then; the best thing you can do is to stay where you are--besidea man who don't care a _claco_ for the jaguars."
The negro hesitated, not quite certain that it would be the best thingfor him. At that moment, however, a second howl, coming in a directionentirely opposite to the first, decided his uncertainty, and convincedhim that the _tigrero_ had spoken the truth.
"You see," said Costal, "the brutes are in search of something to eat.That's why they are calling to one another. Well, now! if you're stillin the mind, off with you to the hacienda!"
This was of course meant as a taunt; for the negro, who now perceivedthat there was a jaguar howling in the way that led to the hacienda, hadgiven up all notion of proceeding in that direction. On the contrary,while his black face turned of an ashen-grey colour, he drew closer tohis imperturbable companion--who had not even attempted to take hold ofthe carbine which lay on the grass by his side!
"Bah!" muttered Costal, speaking to himself, "this comrade of mine isscarce brave enough for my purpose. I must defer it, till I meet withone possessed of more courage." Then resuming the current of histhoughts, which had been interrupted by the howling of the jaguars, hesaid aloud--"Where is the red man, where the black, who would not lifthis arm to aid this brave priest?--he who has risen against theoppressor--the oppressor of all Zapoteques, Creoles, and Aztecs. Havethese Spaniards not been more ferocious than even the tigersthemselves?"
"I should not fear _them_, at any rate," interposed Clara.
"Good! I am glad you talk that way, comrade. To-morrow let us givewarning to our master, Don Mariano de Silva. He must find anothertigrero; and we shall go and join the insurgents in the west."
The Indian had scarce finished his speech, when another howl came fromthe jaguars, as if to put the patience of the tiger-hunter to the test.It was even more spitefully prolonged, coming in the direction in whichthe first had been heard--that is, from a point upon the river a littleabove where the two men were seated.
On hearing it, thus uttered as a signal of defiance, the eyes of thetigrero began to sparkle with an irresistible desire for the chase.
"By the souls of the Caciques of Tehuantepec!" exclaimed he, "this istoo much for human patience. I shall teach those two braggarts not totalk so loud of their affairs. Now, Clara!" continued he, springing tohis feet, "you shall have the opportunity of becoming acquainted with ajaguar at closer quarters than you have hitherto been."
"_Carrambo_!" exclaimed the black, "why should I go near them? I haveno weapon, and would be of no use to you?"
"Hear me, Clara!" said the Indian, without replying to the speech of hiscomrade. "The one that howled last is the male. He was calling to thefemale, his mate. He is a good distance from here, up stream. We mustgo up to him; and as there's not a stream on all the estate, where Ihaven't either a canoe or _periagua_, for the purposes of my calling--"
"You have one here, then?" interrupted Clara.
"Certainly I have. We can go up the river; and in the canoe you willnot be in the slightest danger. I have my own notions as to how we maybest approach this noisy brute."
"But the jaguars can swim like seals, I have heard?"
"I don't deny it. Never mind that; come on!"
Without deigning further speech, the tigrero started forward; and goingcautiously, approached that part of the bank where his canoe was moored.
Clara seeing that it would be perhaps less dangerous to accompany himthan remain where he was alone, reluctantly followed.
In a few minutes they arrived at the place where the canoe was fastenedto the bank; a rude craft, just large enough to carry two men. A paddlelay at the bottom; along with a piece of matting of plaited palm-leaf,which on occasions was called into requisition as a sail. But Costalthrew out the matting, as there was no likelihood of its being requiredupon the present occasion.
Having loosed the cord by which the canoe was attached to the branch ofa willow, the Indian leaped aboard, and seated himself near the stem.The negro took his place abaft. A vigorous push was given against thebank, the little craft shot out into the middle of the stream, and,impelled by the paddle, commenced ascending the current.
The sun was still shining on the river, but with his last rays; and thewillows and _alamos_ that grew along the bank threw their tremblingshadows far over the water. The breeze of the desert sighed among theirleaves, bearing upon its wings sweet perfumes stolen from a thousandflowers. It seemed the intoxicating incense of liberty.
Costal, an Indian and a hunter, inhaled it with an instinctive delight.Clara was altogether insensible to the sweetness of the scene; and hisanxious countenance offered as great a contrast to the calm unmovedfeatures of his companion, as the black shadows of the trees thrown uponthe water with the brilliant hues of the sky.
The canoe for a time kept close along the bank, and followed thewindings of the stream. Here and there the bushes hung over; and inpassing such places Clara kept a sharp look out, in dread of seeing apair of fiery orbs glancing upon him through the leaves.
"_Por Dios_!" cried he, every time the canoe approached too closely tothe bank, "keep her farther off, friend Costal. Who knows but that thejaguars may be up there, ready to spring down upon us?"
"Possible enough," rejoined Costal, vigorously plying his paddle; andwithout giving any farther thought to the appeals of his companion."Possible enough; but I have my idea--"
"What is it?" asked Clara, interrupting him.
"A very simple one, and one which I have no doubt you will approve of."
"Let us hear it first."
"Well, then; there are two jaguars, without speaking of the brace of_cachorros_. These I shall leave to you, since you have no weapon.Your plan will be this: take up one of the whelps in each hand, andbreak in their skulls, by striking them one against the rather. Nothingcan be more simple."
"On the contrary, friend Costal, it appears to me very complicated.Besides, how can I lay hold upon them if they should run away?"
"Very likely, they will save you that trouble by laying hold on you.Never fear your getting close enough. If I'm not mistaken, we shallhave all fo
ur of them within arm's length in less than a quarter of anhour."
"All four!" exclaimed the negro, with a start that caused the canoe tooscillate as if it would upset.
"Beyond doubt," rejoined Costal, making an effort to counterbalance theshock which the frail bark had received. "It is the only plan by whichwe can bring the chase to a speedy termination; and when one is pressedfor time, one must do his best. I was going to tell you, when youinterrupted me, that there are two jaguars--one on the right bank, theother on the left--the male and female, beyond doubt. Now by theircries I can tell that these animals are desirous of rejoining oneanother; and if we place ourselves between the two, it is evident theywill both come upon us at once. What say you? I defy you to prove thecontrary?"
Clara made no reply to the challenge. His profound belief in theinfallibility of his companion's perceptions kept him silent.
"Look out now, Clara!" continued the hunter, "we are going to doublethat bend in the river where the bushes hide the plain from our view.Your face will be turned the right way. Tell me, then, what you see."
From his position in the canoe, Costal, who plied the paddle, was seatedwith his back to the open ground towards which they were advancing; andhe could only see in front by turning his head, which from time to timehe had been doing. But he needed not to look around very often. Thecountenance of the negro, who was face to face with him, resembled afaithful mirror, in which he could read whatever might be passing behindhim.