the
former would be drawn into it. The sea-cow struggled bravely, but the
beast of prey had got too firm a hold to let it escape. The surface of
the water was lashed into foam. The jaguar's claws and teeth were
firmly fixed in the thick hide of the sea-cow. Slowly it seemed to be
drawn higher and higher out of its native element. So eager was the
savage beast, that it did not even observe our approach, but continued
with its sharp teeth gnawing into the back of its defenceless prey. We
now paddled closer. It turned a look of savage rage towards us, seeming
to doubt whether it should let go the manatee and stand on the
defensive, or continue the strife. The way it held the sea-cow gave us
a notion of its immense strength. Gradually the efforts of the manatee
began to relax. It was very clear how the combat would have finished
had we not been present. At a sign from the Indians I lifted my rifle
and fired. The ball passed through the jaguar's neck. Though wounded,
the fierce animal stood snarling savagely, with its fore-feet on the
trunk of the tree, as if prepared to make a spring into the canoe.
While I was reloading, the Indians raised their blow-pipes and sent two
of their slender arrows quivering into its body. Still the jaguar stood
at bay, apparently scarcely feeling the wound. Meantime the huge
cow-fish was slipping off the bank. Naro, on seeing this, ordered his
men to paddle forward, while, harpoon in hand, he stood ready to dart it
at the manatee. Every moment I expected to see the jaguar spring at us.
Just as the manatee was disappearing under the water, the harpoon flew
with unerring aim from Naro's hand, and was buried deeply in its body.
Again we backed away from the bank, just in time, it seemed, for in
another moment the jaguar would have sprung at us. Having got out of
its reach, the Indians shot two more of their deadly arrows into its
body. Still it stood, snarling and roaring with rage at being deprived
of its prey. Gradually its cries of anger ceased, its glaring eyes grew
dim, its legs seemed to refuse it support, and slowly it sank back among
the mass of fern-like plants which bordered the bank.

Meantime, the Indians were engaged with the harpoon line, now hauling in
on it, now slackening it out, a ruddy hue mixing with the current
showing that the life-blood of the manatee was fast ebbing away. In a
short time the struggles of the huge river monster ceased, and the
Indians pa