THE CIMARRONERA.
We had been apprised that between a great bend of the river
Matiyure--forming the southern boundary of our savannas--and an
extensive flat overgrown with thorny bushes, there existed what the
Llaneros call a _cimarronera_, or great hiding place for cattle, which,
owing to the impenetrable nature of the jungle, had from time immemorial
baffled the efforts of every majordomo who had hunted these savannas.
Further we had ascertained that the cattle were there as numerous as a
colony of ants; but so savage and shy, as to never venture from their
wild sanctuary. Thither our efforts were to be directed, not only on
account of the good harvest in store, but also for the purpose of
breaking up, if possible, that den of runaways which, if left
unmolested, might in time become a serious obstacle in the way of
reducing those wild herds to at least a partial submission.
The corrals, which I trust the patient reader has not forgotten we were
in process of building, being now ready, we commenced preparations for a
descent upon the fierce hordes of that neglected section. Messengers
were therefore despatched to the people of Caucagua, an adjacent cattle
farm, apprising them of our intention, and with the dawn of day more
than an hundred hunters were assembled on the spot. Among them were some
of the best _enlazadores_ that the country could produce, all of whom,
like the valiant Pentapolin--chosen model of the hero of La Mancha--had
his right arm bared to the shoulder that the wide sleeve of the Llanero
shirt might not interfere with the management of the lazo.
As soon as the sun was high enough to light us through the bushes, a
detachment of hunters penetrated the bristling maze of thorny acacias,
and succeeded in driving out into the open savannas so large a herd of
cattle that it soon swelled to a considerable _rodeo_. No sooner,
however, did they discover the presence of the hunters, than becoming
frantic they rushed from side to side like a band of furies, and,
heedless of the shouts and goads of the horsemen, broke at length
through the ring of even these experienced hunters, scattering again in
all directions. In vain did the fearless pursuers throw themselves
between the wild mass and the jungle; so rapid and entire was the
dispersion that the plain which but now swarmed with the driven,
bellowing, maddened creatures, was cleared as if by magic, leaving the
disappointed hunters in sole possession. Only here and there a faint
cloud of dust in the distance betrayed the course that some of the
fugitives had taken. The men, enraged at this unexpected discomfiture,
could not be restrained from again entering the tangled labyrinth and
dragging thence by sheer force a number of the refractory brutes. After
deliberation, it was decided that several of the hunters should scour
the plain in search of the runaways, while the larger number rushed
again fearlessly into the jungle. These at last succeeded in securing
several fierce bulls, each of which was treated _secundum artem_,
depriving them of the chance of doing much mischief in future; for no
sooner were they down, than the knife and the saw were busy with their
horns, ears, &c. But the business was not accomplished without the usual
average of casualties in these contests, and on that occasion one of our
best hands was greatly imperilled. A ferocious bull was undergoing the
usual precautionary, though severe measures, for his subjugation, when
one of the men standing near, accidentally became entangled in the coils
of the lazo at a moment when the bull, infuriated, escaped from those
who held him. The poor fellow, although thrown violently to the ground
and severely stunned, almost miraculously escaped further injury. The
daring Sarmiento, one of those who witnessed the transaction, enraged at
sight of his helpless companion, sprang from his horse, seized the
sheep-skin which covered the saddle, and holding it before himself,
fearlessly advanced sword in hand to meet the bull, which, not
comprehending the challenge, stood panting and trembling with rage
before his bold adversary. The matador perceiving this, approached him
more closely and shook the sheep-skin in the animal’s face; then, firm
as a rock, he stood and dauntlessly awaited the coming struggle; it was
enough; with head lowered to the ground, and lashing himself furiously
with his powerful tail, the bull rushed upon his antagonist with a
terrific roar, causing every heart to tremble for the safety of the bold
matador. Then we heard a heavy fall, a deep groan; we saw only a cloud
of dust that concealed the scene; but we knew the Llanero had conquered.
Triumphant shouts of approbation filled the air, whilst I knew not
whether most to applaud the fearless grace with which the man had stood
his ground before this, the most powerful of all infuriate creatures, or
the dexterous celerity that had found, and with one fatal blow
penetrated, the narrow passage through the vertebrae into the spinal
marrow. But the scene in that remote corner of the earth recalled
forcibly to my mind the spirited lines in which the author of Childe
Harold thus depicts one of like nature in the midst of refined Europe:
“Foiled, bleeding, breathless, furious to the last,
Full in the centre stands the bull at bay
Mid wounds and clinging darts and lances brast,
And foes disabled in the brutal fray:
And now the matadors around him play,
Shake the red cloak, and poise the ready brand:
Once more through all he bursts his thundering way--
Vain rage! the mantle quits the conynge hand,
Wraps his fierce eye--’tis past--he sinks upon the sand!”
Those who had galloped off in search of the scattered herd finally
returned, bringing a large addition to the stock, and we were driving
them to the _paradero_, when our Leader’s horse, a fiery charger of the
Goagiro breed,[35] little accustomed to the broken ground of the pampas,
lost his footing and fell with him while endeavoring to clear an
extensive _terronero_. Fortunately his rider received no injury; but
loosing hold of the bridle in his fall, the horse was soon careering
over the plain, and would inevitably have made good his escape, had not
some vaqueros hunting in that direction encountered and captured him
after a long race. Accidents of the kind are very common in the Llanos,
and often in consequence many persons are killed or otherwise injured.
The least evil to which the ousted rider may be subjected, is that of
being left alone, perhaps with a dislocated limb, on an extensive plain,
where the unfortunate may perish from hunger or exposure before
assistance chances to reach him. Our friend B., who once found himself
similarly circumstanced, related to us on this occasion the adventure,
which he swore by all the saints in the calendar had actually occurred
to him. Notwithstanding such exalted referees, a few grains of doubt
still disturbed our belief.
“He was once,” he said, “engaged in hunting with a party of vaqueros on
the extensive savannas of Merecure, which form the great cajon or pampa
between the rivers Cunaviche and Arauca. Having started in the morning
with a full complement of men, there was no difficulty in forming the
_rodeo_; but, as in our own case, all their manœuvres proved
ineffectual in keeping together so great a number of untamed brutes,
which finally broke through the ranks as easily as might a herd of wild
hogs through a field of reeds, and vanished in the distance. So great
was the cloud of dust they raised, that when it cleared, B., whose horse
during the confusion had stumbled in the hole of a prairie-owl, thrown,
and then deserted him, found himself solus in the midst of the wide
pampa, and so bewildered and confused by the general stampede, that he
was totally unable to discover the least clew by which to guide his
steps over those trackless wilds. Overcome with the fatigue of his
useless search, he threw himself upon the ground, finally quite
disheartened by the recollection that he had no lazo by which he would
have been enabled at any time to secure sufficient animal food for his
subsistence. Two whole days he thus passed hopelessly wandering and in
search of food, when, upon the third, kind Providence, compassionating
his sufferings, placed in his way a fat calf, which he succeeded in
capturing after a short chase. Having slaughtered it, he roasted the
whole at once lest it might spoil, then ravenously devoured the welcome
repast. This supply lasted several days, when again finding himself
minus food, he determined to put in practice a stratagem that he had
devised whereby to secure for himself in future an unfailing supply of
wholesome nourishment. He had observed the mother of the calf,
apparently in search of her offspring, lingering in the neighborhood,
moaning and bellowing in a most piteous manner. Availing himself of the
first eligible opportunity, he approached her on all fours, entirely
covered with the skin of her own calf, and forthwith commenced drawing
sustenance from the maternal fount; this he accomplished with so much
natural ease and grace, that the tender mother, after a few incredulous
sniffs, felt convinced at last of his being a perfect calf, and
accepting him for her own, bestowed upon him a good licking. Thus
graciously encouraged, and each day more delighted with the unrestrained
freedom of his new life, time rolled on and a year elapsed without his
ever regretting the loss of home or friends; while so powerful was the
effect of this novel mode of existence upon his person, that it had
materially altered his whole appearance, and as the calf skin seemed to
have actually adhered to his own, so he found himself rapidly
assimilating, as well in tastes as habits, to that interesting
quadruped.”
About this period the majordomo undertook another hunt on these plains,
where he quickly succeeded in collecting a large number of cattle; but
although they were all, as usual, extremely difficult to manage, still
there was one of the number, a young bull with a fine pair of horns
twelve inches long, more refractory and troublesome than any of the
others, which fact--as B. was the bull--was owing probably to his
educated instincts, they enabling him to devise a variety of expedients
for the discomfiture of his pursuers. However he was at length obliged
to yield to superior numbers, and the unerring lazo finally brought him
struggling to the ground, when in an instant one of his captors, an
athletic sambo, had drawn his knife and commenced sharpening it upon the
horns of this novel minotaurus, preparatory to performing upon him the
usual necessary operations. But what language can do justice to the
astonishment of all beholders, when the apparent bull, casting aside his
hairy disguise, sprang erect from the ground, exclaiming as he did so:
“Stop, _amigos_! can you have forgotten your old comrade B., who was
lost a year ago in this _cimarronera_?”
So perilous an adventure having convinced him of the risks attending a
savage life, his companions had no difficulty in persuading him to
return home with them, and thereafter found him of immense assistance in
their expeditions, as, being perfectly familiar with the haunts and
habits of the cattle in that cover, he could lead the vaqueros, when
required, with the sagacity of a pointer.
This story, which B. related with the most admirable ingenuousness of
manner, recalled to his recollection a wonderful discovery upon which he
had chanced, while journeying on a pressing errand to Arauca.
He had been riding hard all day across the plains, until at length,
overtaken by night, he was constrained to encamp on the spot. Grass and
water for his horse--a fine trotter--being abundant and at hand, he took
no precaution to prevent his straying, other than that of fastening the
animal’s feet on the right side with a _manea_, a strap with looped
nooses at both ends. In spite of this the horse wandered from him during
the night, a mishap which compelled poor B. to finish the remainder of
the journey on foot, besides being obliged to carry the ponderous saddle
upon his head.
Having accomplished his errand at Arauca, and after an absence of
several weeks, he was returning home by another route, riding a hired
animal, when to his great joy, on the way he found his steed in fine
condition, and his feet still secured by the strap. The horse he was
riding being already tired, he removed the saddle to the back of his own
steed, and immediately mounted him. But to his overpowering
astonishment, he discovered, on resuming the journey, that the gait of
his horse had undergone an extraordinary change, trotting as formerly on
the side that had remained free from the strap, but ambling on the one
which had been so long confined by it. His wife possessing an ambler, he
sold it immediately he reached home, it being thereafter a useless
expense, as, whenever in the future he and his better half wished to
ride at the same time, all that he had to do was to place her on the
ambling side, and then seating himself on the other they trotted and
ambled away to their hearts’ content.
The nights were thus pleasantly spent, after the fatigues of the day,
most of our men having always some incident or story to relate in
connection with their own experience. One evening, Gaspar, the lame
negro who followed our camp in the humble capacity of washerman,
recounted to a circle of admiring listeners a thrilling adventure which
took place on this very spot, and in which he took a very conspicuous
part. He had been a slave to the wealthy Manuel Blanco, who owned at
that time nearly all these savannas, and possessed in consequence untold
wealth in cattle and horses. In that capacity Gaspar was often compelled
to attend the great hunts undertaken by his master against any _tigre
cebado_ that might have committed depredations in the land.
THE JAGUAR HUNT.
“It was during the month of August,” said Gaspar, “when the savannas are
at the height of inundation, that the circumstances I am about to relate
occurred at this farm of Matiyure. At such times the tigers, finding the
low lands rather too damp for their delicate feet, seek refuge among the
_matas_, or in the immediate vicinity of the farm-house, coming out at
night to procure a good supper for themselves and cubs from amongst the
herds congregated on the _bancos_, and not unfrequently it happens they
carry their depredations to the very gates of the _majada_.
“We had heard for several nights in succession what, in the opinion of
our people, was only the bellowing of _padrotes_ assembling their herds,
but which the more sagacious hounds recognized at once as the roar of
their old acquaintance, the tiger, invariably answering each time with a
prolonged and dismal howl. It was easy to perceive, from the prints left
in the mud, that there were several of these animals, perhaps a mother
and her cubs. One fine morning the boys who tended the calves apprised
the majordomo that some wild beast had broken into the _chiquero_,[36]
and carried off the old sow, about giving birth to a litter; next day
the boar was missing, and so on until the _chiquero_ was entirely
relieved of all the inmates. Fearing for our own lives and the safety
of our steeds, the majordomo made arrangements for a grand hunt, for
the purpose of exterminating, if possible, the whole of these marauders.
Our master, who was at that time in the village, was notified of the
plan, as were also all those who might wish to improve this opportunity
for the display of personal prowess.
“The following day we had the satisfaction of seeing our master arrive
at the farm, accompanied by the _Padre_ and a long retinue of
assistants, all of them zambos of undoubted courage and most
accomplished matadors. The _Padre_, a fat little gentleman not yet past
the prime of life, came more as a _curioso_[37] than, as many supposed,
to exorcise the demons of the jungle. Although he had the reputation of
being a very holy father, he did not disdain at times to lay aside the
cassock and join his parishioners in the manly sport of the Llanos.
“We mustered about forty in all, which, together with a dozen or more
tiger-dogs, were considered quite sufficient for our purpose. Some of
the men carried lances cut to within six feet of the steel head, so that
the long shaft might not interfere with their movements in the jungle;
whilst others, trusting more to their own agility and skill, were simply
armed with their swords and a _saleo_[38] to cover their movements. I,
who was neither a matador nor a great horseman at the time, was
intrusted with the hazardous post of leading the dogs into the cover,
and therefore was more exposed than any of the rest to the anger of the
tiger.
“We were not long in tracking the _pintado_ to a neighboring _mata_ by
the fresh prints of his paw in the soft mud and by a number of
turkey-buzzards hovering above the carcass in the woods.
“On arriving at the place supposed to harbor the beast, all those of our
men who had lazos were stationed at convenient distances around the
wood, while I was ordered to lead the dogs into the jungle after the
concealed enemy. This I accomplished with due precautions, aware, as you
all know, that the _pintado_ has the peculiarity of concealing himself
where not even a fox could hide itself without being discovered.
Presently I perceived a very strong smell--not unlike that arising from
a leather vat--which filled the air in whatever direction the dogs led
me, and soon after a tremendous howling from these worthies apprised me
in whose company they had thrust me. Simultaneously with the howling of
the dogs, I heard first a hoarse growling, not unlike a concert of
_araguatos_ just before the rain, and, judging from the increased
barking of the hounds, I concluded that the enemy was in full retreat,
when I thought my time had come to show him my mettle. But lo! scarcely
had I advanced many paces, when, _Ave Maria, Señores!_ the tiger gave
such a fearful roar as to shake the ground and the trees upon it. I do
not know what became of the dogs or the tiger at the moment; for my
part, all I can say is, that, without being aware of it, I found myself
again alongside of my companions, and, what was worse, in the presence
of the majordomo, who, by way of warning, discharged upon my ribs
sundry blows with his _chaparro_. It is needless to add, that after this
I considered myself ten times better off amidst my hounds, whom I had
every reason to expect would keep away the beast from me, I mean, of
course, the tiger. Upon my word, _camaradas_, and with all due respect
to _mi Comandante_ Rávago, here present, I assure you that, of all
savage creatures, there is none so terrible as an angry majordomo.”
“Thou didst find it so,” retorted the weather-beaten overseer, “when,
amidst a shower of bullets from the Spaniards, I dragged thee out like a
lame duck from the plaza at La Cruz; but proceed, my old buzzard, and
tell us what effect did the well-deserved thrashing produce on thy sooty
hide.”
“Guided by the barking of the dogs, I again entered the wood with
renewed determination, for this time, at least, I was well provided with
a lance, which some humane companion placed in my hands, besides a
_saleo_ which I picked up on my way thither. Thus armed and prepared for
the encounter, I fancied myself this time another Marcelino, slaying
everything around me; but how I acquitted myself afterwards the sequel
of my narrative will show you.
“Well, _Señores_, I found _Tio Tigre_[39] at the foot of a large
algarroba-tree, surrounded by my dogs, whose movements he watched all
the time with an evil eye. To all appearances none of the contending
parties had yet come to any decisive move, although the hounds kept
very closely on him. Cat-like, seated on his haunches and playfully
moving his tail from side to side, he awaited the attack of the barking
troop with becoming composure, never betraying the least symptom of
alarm, nor even deigning to stir a foot beyond his post to silence them.
At times he even appeared to disregard their menacing tone, rubbing his
eyes with his great paws as if doubtful which of my fat hounds would
afford him the best meal. Occasionally he licked his thick upper lip
with his fiery tongue, as if savoring beforehand the unexpected morsel
thus brought before him. Finally one of the dogs, which appeared more
courageous than the rest, made a sudden spring at his side, when I
thought my time had come to plunge my lance into his vitals. But before
I could measure the distance that separated me from the enemy, I had the
mortification to see my brave companion stretched lifeless on the
ground. This, I thought, was a bad beginning; but if ever I have a
chance at thy dirty skin (said I to the villain), I am going to dye it
of a different hue.
“My dogs, however, were not to be intimidated so easily after this
unexpected discomfiture: on the contrary, growing more and more
clamorous all the time for the fate of their companion, they seemed
determined on avenging his death by renewing their attacks upon the
enemy. The tiger, however, conscious, no doubt, of the fate that awaited
him beyond his lair, obstinately refused to be driven out like a
polecat, but adhered firmly to his entrenchment at the foot of the
tree.
“Now, there was among my pack of hounds a splendid fellow which had
always been a particular favorite of mine, not only on account of his
superior strength in dealing with refractory bulls, but also for his
friendly attachment to my person, which he had displayed more especially
whenever the majordomo showed himself overzealous on behalf of my master
by an undue punishment on me. Observing that the tiger still persisted
in maintaining his position, I said to Fierabras--for such was my
favorite’s name--Now then, my boy, show him your teeth! while I advanced
two or three steps with the intention of pinning the animal with my
lance to the body of the tree. But alas! vain attempt: with one stroke
from his huge paw, the tiger snatched the lance from my hands, and laid
me flat on the ground, inflicting at the same time the severe gash on my
neck that you may still observe. But that is not all; as the scoundrel,
disregarding all the rules of decency and politeness, very coolly sat
himself upon my face, nearly suffocating me with the weight of his body
and the strong exhalations arising from it. I thought that if I could
get at my _cuchillo_, which I carried by my side, I would soon get the
pride out of him; but in the situation I then was, it would have been
impossible and even hazardous to attempt anything of the kind.
Fortunately the tiger, like his near relative, the cat, seldom worries
his victims as long as they keep perfectly still. By this time some of
my friends outside--not hearing the loud whoops by which I encouraged
the dogs, and fearing something serious might have happened to
me--hastened to the spot from whence proceeded the barking of the dogs,
and endeavored to rescue me from my perilous situation. The tangled
nature of the wood, however, not permitting the men to use their lazos,
one of my companions--a slave, like myself, and a most daring
matador--resolved to attack the tiger with his sword. Seizing the
sheep-skin from the seat of his saddle, and partly rolling it on his
left arm, he advanced boldly upon the tiger, and, with a voice that I
shall never forget, he cried out: ‘Now, then, _hijo ’una put_ ... you
don’t know who Paulino Blanco is, or else you would not be making faces
at me there as if you were a monkey.’ The tiger, who most likely had,
during his nocturnal visits to the farm-house, heard something about the
famous matador, very wisely disregarded the insult flung at him, instead
of rushing on to his encounter like a mad bull. This somewhat
disconcerted the plans of the matador, who was also aware of the danger
of attacking the beast in his intrenchment; but finally losing all
manner of patience, Paulino made a rush on the tiger, not stopping until
he almost touched the animal’s nose with the sheep-skin; then plunging
his sword in the neck of his antagonist, both fell rolling on the
ground, cracking the brushwood as they struggled. In the meantime I was
not slow in improving the opportunity to crawl out in search of my lost
lance, which I soon found, and was enabled by means of it to return the
service rendered by my companion. To plunge the lance into the beast’s
heart and turn him on his side, was the work of a moment, after which
the tiger gradually relaxed his hold upon my prostrate companion, and
stretched himself out to die without a groan, but not before he had
inflicted several deep wounds on the neck and chest of his antagonist.
Thus ended the career of that scourge of the savannas, and my first
experience in tiger-hunting.
“After this adventure it was easy to perceive that chasing the tiger on
his own ground was not an easy task by any means. Therefore our people
were induced to proceed more cautiously in the subsequent search that
was made for the others.
“It was not long before the dogs, which were by this time aroused to a
sense of revenge and self-defence, fell in with the track of another
tiger, probably the wife of the defunct, as it was evident from the
footprints that she was followed by two younger ones. Fearing from past
experience that this second hunt might also prove as disastrous as the
former, it was agreed that all those who carried lances should enter the
wood on foot in order to attack the tigress in a body, should she refuse
to come out to open ground. I, of course, was too faint with loss of
blood to be able to follow up the trail this time; therefore the dogs
had been placed under the guidance of some one else, and shortly after I
had the satisfaction of hearing the bark of my chaps resounding through
the woods, which was a sure sign they had brought the game to a stand. I
was expecting every moment to hear the glad tidings of the destruction
of this female marauder, when, instead of the usual cry of victory, I
heard a tremendous rush and cracking of sticks, as if a herd of wild
hogs were endeavoring to escape. Judge of my disappointment when I
beheld the whole troop of men and dogs hurrying out of the wood; and at
the head of the fugitives no less a personage than his Reverence the
Padre, hotly chased by the enraged tigress, who, having witnessed the
slaughter in cold blood of one of her darlings, could not restrain her
fury any longer, charging headlong into the midst of the group. In spite
of his category, she would in all probability have made short work of
_Su Señoria_, had not the Padre conceived the good idea of dropping his
broad-brim behind him, which fortunately was carried away by a strong
gust of wind, thus exciting the enraged beast to a pursuit. The tigress,
after sporting with the hat like a bird after a butterfly, finding that
it was mere chaff, tore it in pieces, and again turned her attention
towards the reverend fugitive. In the meantime the Padre had not been
very slow in reaching his horse, which was tied at the foot of a
caujaro-tree a short distance from the wood. Unfortunately, just as he
was in the act of laying hands upon the bridle of his steed, the tigress
issued from amongst the high grass, and again charged him. At sight of
the dreaded beast, the horse, giving a toss to the halter in the air,
broke loose and scampered off, leaving his master to the tender mercies
of the tigress.
“Swifter than a monkey, and in spite of his ponderous stomach, the Padre
went up the slender tree, which bent like a reed at every effort he made
to reach the branches, threatening to drop him between the open jaws of
the tigress, which by this time had reached the foot of the tree. Here,
again, his patron saint, as it is alleged, saved him once more from the
impending danger. The truth, in my opinion, is that the tree was not
stout enough for the tigress to embrace it firmly to climb up, otherwise
all the good saints in heaven would not have prevented her from tearing
him down like a frightened _araguato_.[40] His Reverence might have
remained there until the day of judgment, as the tigress had already
crouched beneath the tree, and he had no means at hand for driving her
off, not even through the power of excommunication, but for the timely
arrival of two _enlazadores_,[41] who, observing a horse scampering over
the plain without a rider, were attracted to the spot; these, unfolding
their lazos, threw them at the beast with such precision as to entangle
the animal at one and the same moment; she was thus prevented from doing
injury to either the Padre or themselves; for, every time she endeavored
to spring on the one, the other tighted his lazo to check her movement.
Furious with rage and foaming at the mouth, the tigress endeavored to
bite the lazos through and through; but finding the hide from which the
thong was twisted rather too tough even for her powerful tusks, she
rolled over the grass in trepidation and dismay at finding herself so
unexpectedly in the power of her captors.
“It was a glorious sight to behold the savage creature thus struggling
with the slender lazos that bound her to the ground. Crippled as I was
from the effects of my first encounter with the tiger, I had sufficient
strength to reach the scene of action in time to take part in the death
of his wife also; but ere I dealt the first blow at her, I felt my arm
suddenly arrested by the Padre, who contended that the honor of putting
an end to her accursed existence belonged to him exclusively as being
the aggrieved party on this occasion. I therefore willingly surrendered
my lance to him, he having lost his own spear in the hurry of the
moment; and then he set to work cutting her up with all the nicety of us
folks, as if he had long been trained in the art of wielding a lance.
Nevertheless, the tigress would not allow herself to be so easily
conquered; at every stroke from the Padre’s lance, she seized the pole
with teeth and claws so firmly that we found it difficult to wrench it
from her grasp, and it was not until she had been literally cut to
pieces that she gave up the ghost--to the devil, I hope.
“It was late in the afternoon when we finished our hunt, and turned our
horses’ heads in the direction of the farm-house. We should, no doubt,
have succeeded in killing as many more of these ferocious beasts, but
for the early mishap to myself and the good zambo Paulino, in
consequence of which we both had to be carried--or, rather, we carried
ourselves as well as we could--to the _pueblo_, in order to have our
wounds properly dressed. On our arrival at the house, we found our
mistress--who had already been acquainted with the facts by my
master--awaiting us at the gate of the inclosure, and apparently very
much excited with the news; for no sooner did Paulino pass the gate,
and without waiting for him to dismount from his horse, than she
accosted my companion in the following manner: ‘Well, Paulino, my boy, I
declare ... now tell me, how did the tiger scratch you, my poor fellow,
and what did you do to the scoundrel?’ with other similar expressions of
feminine curiosity. Paulino, who was more matter of fact than we poor
slave folks have generally the credit for, very prudently hesitated at
first to comply with the train of her requests, excusing himself by
saying, ‘Alas! mistress, it was a hard case, indeed; but, to tell you
the truth, I shouldn’t like to show you how.’
“This reluctance on the part of my companion only helped to excite her
curiosity still more, until she commanded him, in a peremptory manner,
to explain to her the circumstances of the case. By this time Paulino
had, with some difficulty, extricated himself from the saddle, and
falling suddenly upon our mistress with a loud yell, he threw her upon
the ground and commenced biting and scratching her just as the tiger had
done to him. The yell from zambo and the shrieks from _mi Señora_ soon
drew to the spot my master, and some gentlemen who had come to
congratulate him on the success of the hunt. Frantic with passion, and
in a tone of voice which made me tremble for poor Paulino, he roared
out, ‘How, now! Who’s taking such liberties with my wife, here!’ To
which Paulino very calmly replied, ‘’Tis nothing, master, I was only
showing mistress how the tiger scratched me!’ ...”