Their retreat upward upon the slanting limbs of the tree had brought a
large band of their assailants round to that side; and, just as they
raised their triumphant cry, they saw the peccaries dancing among the
branches that lay extended along the sand-bar. Many of these were
hidden by the flakes of hanging grass already mentioned; but another
fearful creature chanced to have been hidden there also; who now
displayed himself in all his shining majesty--not only to the eyes of
the besieged, but likewise to those of the besiegers. The creature was
a quadruped--one of fearful mien, and dimensions far exceeding that of
the Lilliputian peccaries. It was their natural enemy--the jaguar!
Whether it was the shout that had startled him, or the peccaries had
trodden him out of his lair, or both, certain it was that he now sprang
suddenly out, and with one bound launched himself upon the log. For a
moment he stood cowering on its top, turning his eyes first upon the
branches where the boys had taken refuge, and then in the opposite
direction, towards the woods. He seemed irresolute as to which course
he would take; and this irresolution, so long as it lasted, produced an
unpleasant effect upon our young hunters. Should the jaguar also attack
them, their destruction might be accounted as certain; for the great cat
would either strike them down from their unstable porch, or claw them to
death if they continued to cling to it. Of course, to fall down among
the peccaries would be death, equally certain and terrible.
By good fortune, however, the jaguar at the moment of showing himself
was eagerly assailed by the wild pigs; and it was to escape from their
assault, that he had sprung upward to the log. Thither the peccaries
had pursued him, and were now endeavouring to reach the top of the
dead-wood, just as they had done while after the hunters. The jaguar no
longer stood silent and irresolute; but, uttering loud screams, he
commenced defending himself against the assailing host, striking them
with his broad ungulated paws, and flinging one after another back to
the ground, where they lay kicking in the throes of death.
Perhaps it was the presence of mind exhibited by Alexis that brought
matters to a climax, and saved the lives of himself and his brother.
His rifle was still loaded--for it had appeared useless firing into the
midst of two hundred assailants. He knew he could kill only one or two;
and this, instead of frightening them off, would but render the others
more implacable in their resentment. Partly for this reason, and partly
that he had all along held the piece "clubbed" in his hands, he had
reserved his fire. Now was the time to deliver it. The jaguar was even
more to be dreaded than the peccaries--for they were now secure from the
attacks of the latter, whereas they were not only within reach of the
former, but in the very place to which the brute might fancy retreating.
To prevent this contingency, Alexis resolved to give the jaguar his
bullet.
It was but a moment's work to turn the gun in his hand and take aim.
The crack followed quickly; and, on the instant, the hunters had the
gratification to see the great tawny quadruped spring out from the log,
and alight upon the sand--where, in a second's time, he was surrounded
by the dark drove, that from all sides rushed screaming towards him.
It was a bit of good fortune that the bullet of Alexis had only wounded
the jaguar, instead of killing him on the spot. Had he been shot dead,
the peccaries would have torn his beautiful skin to ribbons, and reduced
his quivering flesh to mincemeat, and that within the space of a score
of seconds; but luckily it chanced that the jaguar was only wounded--had
only received a broken leg; and, availing himself of the three that
remained sound, he commenced retreating towards the timber. Thither he
was followed by his thick-skinned assailants; who, transferring their
spite to this new enemy, seemed to forget all about their original
adversaries, who remained quietly perched upon the limbs of the tree!
For some time nothing could be seen but a confused crowd, writhing over
the sand--a dark mass, in the midst of which now and then a bright
yellow object appeared conspicuous, and was then for a time out of
sight; and thus, like a rolling wave, the great drove went surging on,
amidst grunting and screaming, and growling, and chattering of teeth,
till it swept up to the edge of the underwood, and then suddenly
disappeared from the eyes of the spectators!
Whether the peccaries eventually succeeded in destroying the jaguar, or
whether the wounded tyrant of the forest escaped from their terrible
teeth, could never be told. Our young hunters had no curiosity to
follow and witness the _denouement_ of this strange encounter. Neither
cared they to take up the bodies of the slain. Ivan was completely
cured of any _penchant_ he might have had for peccary pork; and, as soon
as their late assailants were fairly out of sight, both leaped down from
the limbs of the tree, and made all haste towards the boat. This they
reached without further molestation; and the canoe-men, rapidly plying
their paddles, soon shot the craft out upon the bosom of the broad
river--where they were safe from the attack either of wild pigs or wild
cats.
It was likely the jaguar betook himself to a tree--his usual mode of
escape when surrounded by a herd of infuriated peccaries--and, as a
proof that he had done so, our travellers could hear the wild hogs still
uttering their fierce grunts long after the boat had rounded the
sand-spit, and was passing up the bend of the river.