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Updated: June 16, 2025
It had got under cover of a bunch of leaves, and there it lay quiet, uttering neither sound nor syllable. Guapo could just see a little bit of its side, and at this in an instant the gravatána was pointed. Guapo's chest and cheeks were seen to swell out to their fullest extent, and off went the arrow. A shriek followed the monkey was hit beyond a doubt. Guapo coolly waited the result.
Guapo knew a good deal about these curious creatures, for he had eaten many a dozen of them in his time, and as many different kinds of them too. Their feeding upon carrion had no effect on Guapo's stomach, and, indeed, white people in South America relish them as much as Indians.
But the Church levies its tax upon the "chacu," and the skins worth a dollar each have to be given up to the priest of the village. A good round sum this amounts to, as frequently four or five hundred vicuñas are taken at a single chacu. A good hunter is sometimes able to "approach" the vicuña. Guapo's friend was esteemed one of the best in all the Puna.
The heaviest part of the sentinel's duty fell to Guapo's share; but Guapo had long accustomed himself to go without sleep, and did not mind it; moreover Don Pablo took longer spells at the stern-oar during the day, and allowed Guapo many a "cat-nap."
It was yet early, the air was chilly, and the ants were not abroad; so that, after gazing for a while on these singular habitations, the bark-gatherers pursued their way, and were soon under the shadow of the cinchona-trees. In a few minutes the work began that work which was to occupy them, perhaps, for several years. The first blow of Guapo's axe was the signal to begin the making of a fortune.
The animal had no design of trampling the hunter; but seeing that it could easily leap out the pit being shallowed for it by Guapo's body and the fallen branches it made a spring, and came out on the edge. Leon had got round upon the side next the river, but he chanced to be on the wrong side just then; for the heavy tapir dashing past, knocked against him, and sent him sprawling among the trees.
Guapo would have been dragged over, and that was certain death; but at this moment a hand was protruded between Guapo's legs the muzzle of a pistol was seen close to the head of the jaguar a loud crack rang through the ravine, and when the smoke cleared away the jaguar was seen no more! Guapo, with his foot badly lacerated, was drawn back from the cliff into the arms of Don Pablo.
He had been proscribed, captured, and sentenced to death. He would have been executed, but for the interference of Don Pablo, who had saved his life. Since then Guapo such was the Indian's name had remained not only the retainer, but the firm and faithful friend, of his benefactor. Guapo's feet were sandalled.
Ha! what have we here this plant like an orange-tree? It is a species of holly. What shall we light upon next? And so the delighted travellers went on, over the ground, through the thick-tangled weeds and convolvuli, making new discoveries at every step. Even Guapo's favourite, the coca-shrub, was found growing among the rest, and the eyes of the old Indian sparkled at the sight of it.
Guapo, upon this occasion, took advantage of the jaguar's skill, and carried to the camp all that the latter had left. It was Guapo's design to make a large quantity of "turtle sausage-meat," so that they might have a supply for many days, as by this time even Guapo himself was getting tired of the horse-flesh "charqui."
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