Maria; A South American Romance - Jorge Isaacs

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1890 edition. Excerpt: ... XX. The following morning at daybreak I took the mountain road, accompanied by Juan Angel, who was loaded down with presents sent by my mother to Luisa and the girls. Mayo followed us; his faithfulness was too much for his prudence, for he had received many injuries in expeditions of this sort, and was far too old to go upon them. Once across the bridge, we met Jose and his nephew Braulio, who were coming to find me. The former at once broached to me his plan for the hunt, which was to try for a shot at a famous jaguar of the neighborhood that had killed some of his lambs. He had followed the creature's trail, and had discovered one of his lairs at the head-waters of the river, more than half a league above his cabin. Juan Angel was in a cold sweat on hearing these details, and putting down on the fallen leaves the hamper which he was carrying, looked at us with staring eyes as if he were hearing of a plan to commit a murder. Jose" kept on talking of his scheme of attack: "You may cut off my cars if he gets away. Now we'll see if that boastful Lucas is only the braggart Ihcy say. Tibureio I'll answer for. Have you got large bullets?" "Yes," I replied, "and my long rifle." "This will be a great day for Braulio. He wants very much to sec you shoot, for I have told him that you and I consider shots very poor that do not hit a bear square between the eyes." He laughed boisterously, clapping his nephew on the shoulder. "Well, let's be off," he continued; "but let the boy carry this garden-stuff to the Senora, and I'll go back." He caught up Juan Angel's hamper, saying, "Are these sweetmeats that Maria is sending for her cousin?" "That's something my mother is sending Luisa." "But what can be the matter with the girl? I saw her go by yesterday...