Maria (GB English). Jorge Isaacs
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–The tight rope! The dogs higher up!
The dogs seemed to be aware of what had happened: as soon as we released them, following Braulio's order, while José helped him to cross the river, they disappeared to our right through the reed beds.
–Hold it," shouted Braulio again, gaining the bank. -cried Braulio again, gaining the bank; and as he hastily loaded the shotgun, catching sight of me, he added:
–You here, boss.
The dogs were in close pursuit of the prey, which must not have had an easy way out, as the barking came from the same point on the slope.
Braulio took a spear from José, saying to both of us:
–You lower and higher, to guard this pass, for the tiger will come back on his trail if he escapes from where he is. Tiburcio with you," he added.
And addressing Lucas:
–The two of them to go round the top of the rock.
Then, with his usual sweet smile, he finished by placing a piston in the shotgun's chimney with a steady hand:
–It's a kitten, and it's already wounded.
In saying the last words we dispersed.
José, Tiburcio and I climbed up to a conveniently located rock. Tiburcio looked and looked over the stock of his shotgun. José was all eyes. From there we could see what was happening on the crag and could keep the recommended pace; for the trees on the slope, though stout, were rare.
Of the six dogs, two were already out of action: one of them was gutted at the feet of the beast; the other, with his entrails showing through one of his ribs torn open, had come to look for us and was expiring with pitiful whimpers by the stone we were occupying.
With his back against a clump of oak trees, his tail swaying, his back bristling, his eyes blazing and his teeth bared, the tiger snorted hoarsely, and when he shook his huge head, his ears made a noise similar to that of wooden castanets. As he rolled over, harassed by the dogs, which were not frightened but not very healthy, blood dripped from his left flank, which he sometimes tried to lick, but to no avail, for then the pack would be on his tail with advantage.
Braulio and Lucas appeared coming out of the reed bed on the crag, but a little further away from the beast than we were. Lucas was livid, and the carate spots on his cheekbones were turquoise blue.
The hunters and the game formed a triangle and both groups could shoot at the same time without offending each other.
–Fire all at once! -shouted José.
–No, no; the dogs! -replied Braulio; and leaving his companion alone, he disappeared.
I realised that a general shot might end it all; but it was certain that some dogs would succumb; and the tiger not being dead, it was easy for him to do mischief by finding us without loaded guns.
Braulio's head, his mouth half-open and panting, his eyes unfolded and his hair dishevelled, peeped out from the reeds, a little behind the trees that defended the beast's back: in his right arm he held his spear, and with his left he deflected the vines that prevented him from seeing well.
We were all speechless; the dogs themselves seemed interested in the end of the game.
José shouted at last:
–Hubi! Killaleon! Hubi! -Hubi! Chop him, Truncho!
It was not advisable to give the beast any respite, and Braulio would not be put at greater risk.
The dogs returned to the attack simultaneously. Another one of them died without a whimper.
The tiger let out a horrified meow.
Braulio appeared behind the group of oak trees, towards our side, wielding the spear shaft without the blade.
The beast turned the same way in search of him; and he cried out:
–Fire! Fire! -leaping back to the same spot where he had struck.
The tiger was looking for him. Lucas had disappeared. Tiburcio was olive-coloured. He took aim and only the bait was burnt.
José fired: the tiger roared again, as if trying to bite its back, and leapt instantly back upon Braulio. The latter, turning again behind the oaks, rushed towards us to pick up the spear that José was throwing at you.
Then the beast faced us. Only my shotgun was available: I fired; the tiger sat on its tail, staggered and fell.
Braulio looked back instinctively to see the effect of the last shot. José, Tiburcio and I were already close behind him, and we all gave a shout of triumph at the same time.
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