Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/111

 The Ocelot is found in South America. It is a fierce, shrewd, leopard-like creature in habits.

Once upon a time there was a man living south of the Equator who owned a large ranch. One night he heard a great noise in one of his barns, and he went out to see what was the matter. It was a very dark night, and as he pushed the door open he saw a pair of green eyes glaring at him. Outside in the yard stood two horses shivering with fright and even the pigs were grunting uneasily. He knew that he could not do anything at that hour so he closed the door and went back to bed. As soon as it was daylight he got his men together and came down to find out what was shut up in the barn. The chickens, ducks, and pigeons were all excited and making a great noise, for they evidently knew that an enemy was close by. The man pushed the door open, and before he had time to step back a beautiful ocelot flew at his throat. He gripped the beast by the front paw and tried to throw it off. Two of his men joined in the struggle and between them they overpowered it.

Later on they discovered that there was a second ocelot shut up in the barn, evidently its mate. One of the men climbed to a window and from there, after several failures, succeeded in lassoing the animal. Steel dog collars and strong chains were placed about the necks of the prisoners, and they were securely fastened to a couple of empty dog kennels. Meanwhile the men went off to bathe and tend their bites and scratches.

The ocelots must have gone into the barn to steal chickens, and have frightened the horses, which were loose in there. The latter rushed out, and a halter rope which had been around the neck of one of them was found jammed in the latch. This was how the door became closed, making the ocelots prisoners.

The poor beasts tugged at their chains until the fur around their necks was all but worn off. Then the children came and threw stones at them, poked them with sticks and teased them in many cruel ways. So instead of becoming tame they grew fierce and sullen. No one ever went close to them for all remembered their fighting powers the day they were caught.

The ocelots were mates, but under sized, for they grew quite a little in captivity.

One day a boy who was traveling with his father through South America happened to come to the ranch. When he saw the ocelots he was much struck with their beauty, and offered to buy them. The ranchman, who had no use for them, sold them cheap, and they were duly boxed and shipped to California, their new home. The boy grew very fond of his pets and took