f THE BROKEN MIRROR By Adam Breede
|^^."Don't put that mirror in!"
» speaker was Nestor Fa
Jes, a young Brazilian who was
to be my interpreter on a hunting
trip in the Jungles of Minas Geraes.
, "Why not?" I queried, .continuing
^o pack my shaving outfit.
“Because it will bring us bad
jjtuck.” was the quick response.
, "Oh. superstitious, eh?” I laugh
ngly replied.
, "Yes, everybody is superstitious
*wn here and especially the hunt
l' that is true.
trly all hunters and sportsmen
have considerable respect for omens
and luck. They believe that signs
. come forth before certain events.
' ..This is not only true of the sports
l^en of South America, but of every
cpahttry.
Bla<ck cats, white mules, mirrors
and Areams of every kind play an
important part in the sportsman's
life \
\ They’re Off.
It waJ 4 o'clock in the morning
when we r?t^i Ished packing our hunt
ing outfit in Yhe Hotel Aveneda at
Rio de JaneirV), find an hour later
tound us aboArd the train headed
northwest, stemming towards Matl
poo. which itL^the end of the rail
road. nearly' £00 miles distant.
‘•When do we eat?” I asked my
companion about 10 o clock that
morning.
•‘I don't know,” came the re
sponse.
•‘Well, if I could talk Portuguese
I certainly would know where we
could get breakfast.'
Just then the conductor came In
and my young friend quizzed him,
and then announced to me that we
would have 20 minutes for lunch
at the next station.
That was good news, as I had an
appetite like a bear that had just
!j come out from hibernating
* No sooner had the train come to
| a stop than we jumped off and made
i our way to an eatinf stand close
by. Just as we had finished giving
our order. "Toot! toot!” went the
engine and immediately the train
got under motion.
My companion caught the front
end of the last car. while l arrived
.l ist in lime to grab hold of the
>■■••11 end.
First Bad Luck.
By this time the engine was well
under motion and was going at
such a speed as to drag me along
tlie railroad for about 100 yards.
Of course, I wanted to see which
*'gas the stronger, a Brasilian loco
motive or myself, and to my as
tonishment, I found that that engine
pulled that whole train right out
of my left hand.
When I got to my feet the train
was about one-quarter of a mile
away, but was beginning to slow
down. Running as hard as I could
In my hunting boots, and waving
my hands frantically, I finally
caught the train and- continued the
Journey.
Noting that I was rubbing my lett
arm constantly, my companion re
marked: "See, that is what you get
for putting that mirror in."
^ To which I sharply retorted: "Oh.
it never would have happened if it
jhvwei-e not for the mirror.
S?: Two days later we arrived at
v ilatipoo and immediately got ac
tion to continue our journey by
ox-carts and horseback as far into
I te Jungles as possible.
(We went down valleys and over
, mountains without a mishap, but
,^511 the time the condition of the
^ligaments in my left arm was not
improving. But as every sportsman
must have an excuse when he miss
es his mark. I had a good alibi.
No Indoor Sport.
Now, hunting big game In the
jungles of South America, is any
thing but an indoor sport. In
truth, it is much harder work than
hunting grizzlies in the Rockies
because there is much climbing to
do and the heat is so intense.
As we journied along, little while
crosses covered with white anil
blue paper could be seen dotting
either side of the road or trail.
Each one of those crosses marked
a spot where some native had been
murdered. The crosses averaged
from two to five feet high and in
each case liad been placed by some
close relative or near friend of tbe
victim.
Our first real camp was built In
the heart of the Jungles within a
mile of a small lake.
But we had been warned against
going near this place as it was one
of the most fever stricken districts
in the northern part of Brazil.
However, this was the big game
country, and it was that kind of
game that I was after, so we es
tablished a delightful little camp
in short order
I'lenty of flame.
That no mistake had been made
in the selection of the camping
x spot, v is finite apparent by the
■bfl that within a couple of days
had two tapirs several mop
tiger, wild boar a rvl many
Wk.
While the natives were skinning
the big tapir, which weighed about
800 pounds, I discovered an ideal
spot where one could sit and smoke
and reflect on the doings of the day
and dream of the chase.
It was not long before I had the
place entirely cleared in the form
of a circle, and a huge Aroelra tree
stood like a giant in the center.
Its branches were high and just far
enough apart to let the soft moon
beams through.
It was evening and I had builded
my campfire and sat quietly piedi
tating beneath that aroeira tree.
“Say. this is some place you
have fixed up," remarked young
Fagundes, as he entered through
the doorway made of palms.
“Yes," I replied. “And we cer
tainly have a bunch of trophies, re
gardless of the fact that I packed
the mirror along.
“You are right, but we are not
through yet,” came the reply as
Nestor Fagundes sat down on a
log close to the fire.
Move Bad Lark.
Then, seeming to notice for the
first time the giant tree that
marked the center of the cam]), he
exclaimed in a somewhat startled
voice:
"Do you know what kind of a
tree that is?"
I replied that I did not.
"That is an aroeira tree."
"A what?" I nsked.
"An Aroeira tree,” ho replied
rather curtly.
"Well, what of it?” I queried
"That will bring you bad luck,
sure.”
A ringing laugh burst from my
lips.
"That is all right.” said my
friend. "You may laugh, but any.
native here will tell you that that
is the tree of bad luck and it also
produces a skin disease. They say
that the bad effects of this tree
can only be avoided by treating the
tree just as if it were a man.”
"How's that?"
"Well, every time you pass close
to this tree, you are to take off
your hat religiously and say eith»r
good morning, good afternoon, good
evening or how-do-you-do.”
Whereupon I Immediately arose,
doffed my hat, turned and backed
in a most gallant fashion, at the
same time addressing the tree with,
"Good evening, my friend. How
goes every little thing?”
Then turning with a laugh I sat
down to continue my smoke.
"It is quite evident that you ars
not superstitious in the least or
you would not treat this tree so
lightly,” remarked my comrade, as
he henped another log on the firs.
"Well, you see I respect your be
lief enough in superstition to ad
dress the tree to show that I meant
to be friendly to It.”
From then on the conversation
continued along the line of omens
and luck.
A Tiger!
It was a beautiful Brazilian moon
light night. The entire heavens
were clear and the myriad of stars
winked and blinked through the
leafy trees from every direction
Amid such surroundings and in
such a wonderful atmosphere it was
Iierfectly natural that we should he
in high spirits over the successful
hunt.
The guide and native helpers had
long since retired, but young Fa
gundes sat with me by the dying
embers until the midnight hour
strolled around.
We had scarcely retired when the
thunderous roar of a tiger echoned
and re-echoed throughout the
Jungle.
Almost at the same time I heard a
piercing cry of a human voice, in
shrieks of terror.
Springing to my feet, I saw the
camp cook leaning against a tree in
the moonlight. He was trembling
and his eyes appeared to be bulging
out. It was some time before he
calmer! down sufficiently to explain
that the tiger had come within about
1ft feet of where he was sleeping,
when he belched forth his mightl
roar. Then the entire camp was
awake, and excitement ran high.
But there was nothing to do hut
to go back to bed and be ready
for the morrow's hunt,
"That Is what I call bringing
your game right Into camp, young
fellow." I remarked ta Fagundes.
"You can't treat that for luck."
"But you haven't bagged him
yet,” was the calm retort.
The Mirror Broken.
Just then the stillness of the
night was again broken by the howl
of the beast.
There was considerable hustling
next morning around camp and we
got an enrly start. We djd not have
to hunt very long until we came
upon fresh tracks of a monster ti
ger. We trailed it through the Jun
gle until late that afternoon and
then decided to hunt the animal by
night.
Returning to camp we ate roast
tapir and wild Itoar. While the na
lives seemed to enjoy the ladled
monkeys about as much as any
thing.
That afternoon I accidentally
dropped the mirror off of a tree
and broke it to bits.
"There," cried my young friend
interpreter. "Now you will have
bad luck."
"Yes.” I rpelied. "And seven-years
of it. However. I am not going to
lose any sleep over it.”
The sole topic of the conversa
tion that day was about the big
tiger.
Taking an early start that after
noon wo went by horseback as far
as we could, going down deep can
yons and up to the point of a jag
ged mountain where we found
fresh tracks of the tiger, just as
we had figured.
A Hog for Bait.
We had brought a native dog
along as bait. Tying the dog to
some brush, we found a fine tree
in which we could camp for the
night.
It was the work of a rew min
utes for young Fagundes and my
self to get comfortably located high
up in the boughs of a tree where
we were carefully screened.
The sun had just gone down and
the heavens began to grow dark.
The darkness seemed to affect the
dog. for the howl that it put up
could have been heard around that
mountain.
It certainly did seem that noth
ing could prevent us from getting
that tiger before morning—the stage
was properly set for it.
We were dressed for comfort,
wearing helmets which were com
pletely covered with netting, and
leather gloves to protect our hands
from the mosquitoes. That we were
prepared for an all-night siege was
evident by the looks of our lunch
bag.
The dog objected most seriously
to being tied, so it kept up a con
stant baying and howling, which
was just the thing necessary to at
tract the tiger.
The odds were a 30 to 1 shot that
we would not return to camp emp
ty handed. and I was remarking
about this to young Fagundes, who
replied:
‘•yes. I will admit chances could
not be more favorable than they
are now. but I would feel better
about it if you hadn't broken that
mirror."
‘ There you go again. I suppose I
never will hear the last of that
broken mirror.”
The .Storm.
As if Ui answer to my statement,
a startling crash came, apparently
from a clear sky. A blinding streak
of lightning was followed by deep,
roaring thunder.
It came so suddenly that neithei
of us could speak for some time
Then I broke the silence. "It
looks as If we were going to have
a bad storm,”
■ Yes," replied my companion.
"The wind is rising, and it is sprink
bng now ”
So quietly had the storm ap
proached that we did not realize
the danger.
In hopes that the storm would
soon pass we remained on the
windy perch, which was swaying
wildly back and forth high above
the thicket.
Crash!
Another blinding streak of light
ning painted the heavens
Immediately it seemed a cloud
burst had taken place and that
we were In the center of It.
Darkness covered the mountain.
C'autlonsly making our way down
the giant tree we reached the
ground, drenched to the skin.
I-oosening the dog. we went blind
ly down the mountain.
The Raging Creek.
Reaching the bottom of the can
yon, a roaring sound could plainly
lie heard above the piercing rain
and whistling of the high wind—
the little creek had within a few
minutes grown into a madly, wind
ing. treacherous stream.
Fortunately. I had an electric
flasher, for It was only by con
stant use of It and much danger
ous climbing that n fallen tree was
located spunnlng the stream.
Whether the dog foilowod us
across on the fallen tree or not I
do not know, but it was waiting for
us when we reached our horses.
In place of the storm abating
it grew worse, and at times It was
hard to sit in the saddle, as the
horses with bowed heads and stum
bling feet faced It.
There was no road or trail to he
guided l>y and even had there been
it would have been impossible to
see it.
The noises were given free reign
to find their way Istck to camp,
which eventually they did.
The natives greeted us with much
excitement, as they thought we
Would either be lost or drowned.
That night we appreciated warm,
woolen blankets more thaa aver ba
ftirr.
For three days and nights the sky
was murky, streams all badly swol
len and it was impossible to hunt.
The natives became discouraged
anil frightened. They informed me
that I was camping in the most
fever-stricken district in that part
of Brazil and that if I stayed there
a week I would be a dead man. I
asked them how they knew that
the fever season was now on and
they said that the rainy season had
come to stay. When questioned how
they knew this, they pointed to the
millions of fireflies that sparkled
here and there In the Jungles.
Natives Afraid.
No Inducement I could offer to
persuade them to remain—the en
tire bunch of skinners and helpers
departed in a itody and left me
with only a guide, one helper and
my Interpreter.
Undoubtedly the natives were
right, for we remained in camp
near the lake several days longer,
but never even got a chance to
hunt.
Breaking camp, our little party
of four started on a 25-mile trip
down the river, where game was
said to be plentiful and climatic
conditions better.
Going as far as possible by horse
back. we secured a dory two feet
wide and 20 feet long, piled our
duffle in and started down the
river. We tried to pick up a native
or two to (to with us to man the
boat, but all refused, saying that
it was too dangerous, as the trip
could not be made without accident.
They pointed out that the river
had risen seven feet and that there
were dangerous rapidr ahead.
The river was as wild as a March
hare and our little dory shot down
the stream at a rapid puce We
could not help but feel a thrill of ex
citement as we fought our way
along and especially when we came
in sight of the first rapids.
The guide and the native he!|>er
were throwing a constant barrage of
Portuguese bark and forth at each
other and each aentence was punc
tuated with an exclamation
They used their utmost efforts to
steer away from the rocks where
the water was itoiling. seething, hiss
ing and churning about
In the ICupids
Young Faguntjys and I braced our
selves in tlie dory, holding our guns
in our hands reads to throw them
on the shore in rise of accident
Just when it looked aa though the
boat was under control it was
caught in the rapids and whirled
comtdetely around into the foaming
mass. For an instant it looked as
though nothing could save us from
taking a treacherous trip over the
rapids.
Again the boat took another swift
turn and was being carried sideways
into the churning waters when the
guide sprang upward, caught hold
of the thick limb of an overhang
ing tree and cried for help It was
only after a hard struggle that we
were able to land the dory and its
contents all safely.
This same performance was re
peated three times that afternoon.
Having passed the last rapids, and
with darkness coming on we selected
a place for .our ramp.
Being dog tired, we slept until
the hot rays of the morning sun
awakened u* Not until iate in
the afternoon did we make any at
tempt at hunting
"We are now In the heart of the
best hunting section in northern
Hr axil remarked the guide as we
made our way through the jungle
Continuing, lie said:
"Tapir, tapir, everywhere I as
sure you plenty of shots at them
tomorrow Just then he stooped
down and examined the earth.
Another Tiger.
"Ah ha!" he exclaimed "Tiger,
Tiger.”
Sure enough, there was the first
print of a large tiger's paw.
"Much grande,” he remarked as
he designated the sixe of the tiger
with his hands.
We turned to trail the tiger, but
it had crossed over the top of the
mountain and undoubtedly far down
the valley.
We returned to camp that night
empty-handed, but filled with con
fidence and hope for the morrow.
The next day the guide took the
dogs to the edge of the river where
we had found the tiger tracks They
sniffed, gave a doop. long bay and
started through the Jungle.
Hour after hour we made our
way close on the heels of. the
hounds, every minute expecting to
jump the tiger. But when the noon
day sun hit the heavens we, as well
as the dogs, were completely fagged
out and It was almost Impossible to
hunt lielween 11 In the morning and
3 In the afternoon. There was
nothing for us to do but lie down
In the shade and rest. Boring this
time the guide kept repenting and
assuring us there would he no
trouble getting tapirs, ns he said
there were tracks everywhere.
“K we no get tiger today we get
^.tapir tomorrow, sure,” said t*ho
guide.
“All right,” I replied. "Tomor
row will be devoted entirely to tapir
hunting.”
And it was.
But we were no more successful
hunting tapir than we were hunt
ing tiger.
Searching Parlies.
The next day two natives came
strolling into camp. They explained
they had been sent out in search
of us by some friends in a nearby
valley, as the report bad got out
that we were crazy with the fever
and that we were either dead or
running hopelessly about In the jun
gle. They also reported that three
different searching parties had been
sent out trying to locate us. with
instructions to take us back to the
town. We entertained them tiiat day
and tried to get them to remain
with us, but they refused, saying
that they were afraid of the fever.
While the weather was most fa
vorable in every respect and wo
hunted from the break of dawn un
til dusk, we never got sight of an
other tiger or tapir.
"Didn't I tell you that we would
not have any more luck after you
broke that looking glass?" my friend
and interpreter reminded me.
“Yes." I replied. "But we are not
through yet. Can't you hear those
apes chattering in the trees over
there? And listen—there! That's a
barbado. "Well get that bird tomor
row."
When I mentioned Wbado tha
guide began to show new signs of
life. He told us that there were
quite a number of those aloes up
there that stood on their hind feet
and walked like a man, and had
long whiskers
He said that all natives were
afraid to hunt them, but he was not
and that he would take us out early
in the morning over the thicket in
which the apes were now so loudly
chattering.
It was nearly 3 o'clock tile next
afternoon before we caught sight,
of a barbado. It sat in the bushy
tree and at first glance looked like
a small red-headed Irishman, de*
orated with whiskers. The barbado
saw us about the same time we saw
it and in a flash disappeared in the
jungle
Quietly we hunted for some - go of
tlie barbado
Five liar bathe*.
After an hour we were rcw.ird**«l
Having Just come up out of a little
ravine we placed our gu'i* against
the trunk of a tree and went t »
a small nearby spring to get a drink.
Hearing a slight noise I glanced up
and then stood almost riveted in th**
spot with amaxement. There, i!
most above me. were five barbad<»*
in one tree. I saw them all »t
once. Quickly I secured my gun.
hut when I looked again all I could
see wai the shaking of the branches
in the tree they just left. I fired
three quick shots in that direction,
but unfortunately non* of them
found meat.
The guide ind my interpreter
had also fired In that direction hut
were equally unsuccessful.
Turning around. I saw one t»f tho
large, long haired barhado* kw
lag from the top of one tree to an
other. It just nussed catching hoi 1
of an extended branch and w • *
swiftly swinging hack Once ag i ,1
its long body shot through the air.
At the same time I fired in> 4"t
automatic. But the beast had land
ed safely in the tree top and qui* i
ly disappeared.
“That broken mirror sure gives
us all bad luck.** remarked the
guide as we again made our w .y
back to camp empty handed it
least that is the way young Fugun*
des interpreted his sentem
The helper also pined the Ida nut
of all bud luck on the mirror. .1
reminded us that we would be for
tunate If we got out of the jungle*
alive
The broken mirror had begun to
get on the nerves of the guide and
helper, Just as It had upon tho
nerves of my Interpreter. They ^
even said that wkh the cause of u*
being covered with ticks anJ foot
lice.
rhe tick* were had enough l>ut
th# foot lice were much worse, i*
they made u* lame. But the ticks
could be pulled off of the various
parts of the body but the lies had
to be dug out or cut out of our
feet—most of them boring their
way deep into the flesh between tbs
toes, or underneath the toenails.
Home even hurled themselves deep
Into the heel, and caused Inflamae
tlon to set in very quickly.
"I'm sick and want to go home.t
complained the helper upon reach*
Ing camp. Then the guide served
notice that he was going to leave
the nest day. After murh persua
sion, I Anally got them to agree t«
remain one day longer, ns I was
anxious to get a few more speci
men*
When I retired that night I
(CmUIhmI mi Pec* Kl«hl.k_„
