Chapter 40

           Beforecomingupwiththescout,anincidentoccurredtovarythemonotonyofthemarch.Insteadofkeepingalongtheavenue,themajorhadconductedhiscommandinadiagonaldirectionthroughthechapparal.Hehaddonethistoavoidgivingunnecessarypaintotheafflictedfather;whowouldotherwisehavelookeduponthelife-bloodofhisson,oratleastwhatthemajorbelievedtobeso.Thegoryspotwasshunned,andasthediscoverywasnotyetknowntoanyothersavethemajorhimself,andthetrackerwhohadmadeit,thepartymovedoninignoranceoftheexistenceofsuchadreadsign.

           Thepaththeywerenowpursuingwasamerecattle-track,scarcebroadenoughfortwotorideabreast.Hereandthereweregladeswhereitwidenedoutforafewyards,againrunningintothethornychapparal.

           Onenteringoneoftheseglades,ananimalsprangoutofthebushes,andboundedoffoverthesward.Abeautifulcreatureitwas,withitsfulvouscoatocellatedwithrowsofshiningrosettes;itsstronglithelimbssupportingasmoothcylindricalbody,continuedintoalongtaperingtail;theverytypeofagility;acreaturerareevenintheseremotesolitudesthejaguar.

           Itsveryrarityrendereditthemoredesirableasanobjecttotesttheskillofthemarksman;and,notwithstandingtheseriousnatureoftheexpedition,twoofthepartyweretemptedtodischargetheirriflesattheretreatinganimal.

           TheywereCassiusCalhoun,andayoungplanterwhowasridingbyhisside.

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