The sun was gradually inclining towards the horizon, when a prolonged
howl, shrill at first, but ending in a hoarse roar, fell upon the ears
of the two adventurers. It appeared to come from a brake some distance
down the river; but, near or distant, it at once changed the expression
upon 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 the
slightest 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 that
the sounds had deceived him.
"You are mistaken as to the number," coolly proceeded Costal. "There is
not 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 off
towards the hacienda.
"Take care what you do!" said the Indian, apparently inclined to amuse
himself 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 know
well--for I have proved it a hundred times--that is, that a brace of
tigers, when the male and female are together, seldom roar in that
fashion--especially if they suspect the presence of a human being. It
is more likely, therefore, that at this moment they are separated; and
by 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--beside
a man who don't care a _claco_ for the jaguars."
The negro hesitated, not quite certain that it would be the best thing
for him. At that moment, however, a second howl, coming in a direction
entirely opposite to the first, decided his uncertainty, and convinced
him 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 still
in the mind, off with you to the hacienda!"
This was of course meant as a taunt; for the negro, who now perceived
that there was a jaguar howling in the way that led to the hacienda, had
given up all notion of proceeding in that direction. On the contrary,
while his black face turned of an ashen-grey colour, he drew closer to
his imperturbable companion--who had not even attempted to take hold of
the carbine which lay on the grass by his side!
"Bah!" muttered Costal, speaking to himself, "this comrade of mine is
scarce brave enough for my purpose. I must defer it, till I meet with
one possessed of more courage." Then resuming the current of his
thoughts, which had been interrupted by the howling of the jaguars, he
said aloud--"Where is the red man, where the black, who would not lift
his arm to aid this brave priest?--he who has risen against the
oppressor--the oppressor of all Zapoteques, Creoles, and Aztecs. Have
these Spaniards not been more ferocious than even the tigers
themselves?"
"I should not fear _them_, at any rate," interposed Clara.
"Good! I am glad you talk that way, comrade. To-morrow let us give
warning to our master, Don Mariano de Silva. He must find another
tigrero; and we shall go and join the insurgents in the west."
The Indian had scarce finished his speech, when another howl came from
the 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 which
the first had been heard--that is, from a point upon the river a little
above where the two men were seated.
On hearing it, thus uttered as a signal of defiance, the eyes of the
tigrero began to sparkle with an irresistible desire for the chase.
"By the souls of the Caciques of Tehuantepec!" exclaimed he, "this is
too much for human patience. I shall teach those two braggarts not to
talk so loud of their affairs. Now, Clara!" continued he, springing to
his feet, "you shall have the opportunity of becoming acquainted with a
jaguar at closer quarters than you have hitherto been."
"_Carrambo_!" exclaimed the black, "why should I go near them? I have
no weapon, and would be of no use to you?"
"Hear me, Clara!" said the Indian, without replying to the speech of his
comrade. "The one that howled last is the male. He was calling to the
female, his mate. He is a good distance from here, up stream. We must
go up to him; and as there's not a stream on all the estate, where I
haven'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 will
not be in the slightest danger. I have my own notions as to how we may
best 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 going
cautiously, approached that part of the bank where his canoe was moored.
Clara seeing that it would be perhaps less dangerous to accompany him
than remain where he was alone, reluctantly followed.
In a few minutes they arrived at the place where the canoe was fastened
to the bank; a rude craft, just large enough to carry two men. A paddle
lay at the bottom; along with a piece of matting of plaited palm-leaf,
which on occasions was called into requisition as a sail. But Costal
threw out the matting, as there was no likelihood of its being required
upon the present occasion.
Having loosed the cord by which the canoe was attached to the branch of
a willow, the Indian leaped aboard, and seated himself near the stem.
The negro took his place abaft. A vigorous push was given against the
bank, 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 the
willows and _alamos_ that grew along the bank threw their trembling
shadows far over the water. The breeze of the desert sighed among their
leaves, bearing upon its wings sweet perfumes stolen from a thousand
flowers. 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 his
anxious countenance offered as great a contrast to the calm unmoved
features of his companion, as the black shadows of the trees thrown upon
the water with the brilliant hues of the sky.
The canoe for a time kept close along the bank, and followed the
windings of the stream. Here and there the bushes hung over; and in
passing such places Clara kept a sharp look out, in dread of seeing a
pair of fiery orbs glancing upon him through the leaves.
"_Por Dios_!" cried he, every time the canoe approached too closely to
the bank, "keep her farther off, friend Costal. Who knows but that the
jaguars may be up there, ready to spring down upon us?"
"Possible enough," rejoined Costal, vigorously plying his paddle; and
without 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, and
break in their skulls, by striking them one against the rather. Nothing
can 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 shall
have all four of them within arm's length in less than a quarter of an
hour."
"All four!" exclaimed the negro, with a start that caused the canoe to
oscillate as if it would upset.
"Beyond doubt," rejoined Costal, making an effort to counterbalance the
shock which the frail bark had received. "It is the only plan by which
we can bring the chase to a speedy termination; and when one is pressed
for time, one must do his best. I was going to tell you, when you
interrupted me, that there are two jaguars--one on the right bank, the
other on the left--the male and female, beyond doubt. Now by their
cries I can tell that these animals are desirous of rejoining one
another; and if we place ourselves between the two, it is evident they
will both come upon us at once. What say you? I defy you to prove the
contrary?"
Clara made no reply to the challenge. His profound belief in the
infallibility of his companion's perceptions kept him silent.
"Look out now, Clara!" continued the hunter, "we are going to double
that 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 seated
with his back to the open ground towards which they were advancing; and
he could only see in front by turning his head, which from time to time
he had been doing. But he needed not to look around very often. The
countenance of the negro, who was face to face with him, resembled a
faithful mirror, in which he could read whatever might be passing behind
him.