On this sandbank, close to the forest, we found
several guana's nests; but they had never more than fourteen eggs apiece.
Thus passed the day in exercise and knowledge, till the sun's declining orb
reminded us it was time to return to the place from whence we had set out.
The second night's attempt upon the cayman was a repetition of the first,
quite unsuccessful. We went a-fishing the day after, had excellent sport,
and returned to experience a third night's disappointment. On the fourth
evening, about four o'clock, we began to erect a stage amongst the trees
close to the water's edge. From this we intended to shoot an arrow into the
cayman: at the end of this arrow was to be attached a string which would be
tied to the rope, and as soon as the cayman was struck we were to have the
canoe ready and pursue him in the river.
While we were busy in preparing the stage a tiger began to roar. We judged
by the sound that he was not above a quarter of a mile from us, and that he
was close to the side of the river. Unfortunately the Indian said it was
not a jaguar that was roaring, but a couguar.
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