Clambering over rocks, I came up to the boy, with his _machete_ in his hand, standing at the foot of a tree upon the leafless branches of which was a fine iguana (lizard) two feet or more in length.

Visions of iguana steak, which I had long desired to try, rose in fancy.

The boy was disgusted when he found I had no pistol with which to shoot his animal, but grunted, "If we but had a cord." I directed him where to find a cord among our luggage and on his return he made a slip-noose, cut a long and slender pole to which he tied his snare, then handing me his _machete_ he raised his pole and tried to slip the noose over the lizard's head.

The iguana gave a leap, and as it shot by me I struck at it with the _machete_, which hit it and threw it on the rocks below.

However, before we could reach it, it had made good its escape.
Returning to the mule I found it eating grass contentedly by the roadside.