The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1871-01-06
iV WILD sPoR4s m AFRICA.


That ulQub We Wcl6 W steep IN Gle |
forest; SO, before sunset, we built
large camp for shelter. But there
was no sleep for me; the leopards
were too plentiful, and their dismal
and ferocious howls sounding not
far. from the camp told me that We
had better keep a bright lookout. |
I forbade any one to move out Of
the light Of the fires during the night;
but there was little need of the eau
tion, as they knew very well that II
they did they would never come
back to the camp. The next day
proposed leopard hunt. The next
morning, when 1 got up and said we
must ind the lair OF the leopard, the
people seemed to back down; but l
was not willing to give it,up, as the
leopards we're not far from US, and
their lair must be near by. ] want
ed Just four Apingi to 60 NTH me.
So / called four Of the warriors.
1 gave two guns to them, and one
preferred to 90 with his war spears.
After a while We came to the bank
of little stream, where I discovered
the footprints Of huge leopard in
the soft ground. What paws! 1t
must be an old and ferocious animal.
1 have not the slightest doubt that
the monster was an old fellow, and
that it was the one that came so near
our camp during the night, and no
thing but the big fires that we kept
up had frightened him away and
prevented him from pouncing upon
us. Unless the leopard had caught
something last night he must be
/ fearfully hungry, and, consequently,
very fierce. 1 must look out, for, in
that case, if I see him 1 will have
but very little time to fire, for in a
Fifty he will spring upon me, said l
to myself. A
Sol carefully followed along the
banks of the stream the footprints
of the huge cat If he sees me first
be may pounce upon me, as cat
does upon a mouse. Imust be care
ful. The Apingi are watchful. They
look all around, their ears are ready
to hear the least noise. All at once
I hear a cluck from one of the men.
| I stop; be points out 10 me a spot
ahead, just by the stream, where the
underbruch or jungle is very thick.
Huge tress have fallen one upon an
other, and it is impossible to see
through The mass. The leopard
must be there. This dark place
must be his abode for the day. There
he hides himself and sleeps, and from
there he starts upon his depredations
spreading fear and terror among
beasts and men. I stand ready to
| fire at q seconds notice. wish you
could have seen me. knew that ii
was a matter of life and death with
me. / follow the track ofthe leo
| pard, for it had walked all along the
| little stream. The Apingi men are
not mistaken. Suddenly the foot
prints leave the river, and the last
see of them show that the animal
has retired into that thick, dark
and almost impenetrable part of the
Jungle, where the Apingi had told
me that the leopard was concealed
| This is dangerous game. I can not
see the enemy. 1t is dangerous to
90 in. I can not back out; I dare
not show the Apingi that l am afraid
But then I do not wish to be killed
by an infuristed leopard.
The best thing I can do is to use
caution as I enter the thicket. The
Apingi are almost afraid to 90 in.
But we must do it. 1 lead. Oh,
wish l had some native dogs with
me; they would bark and show us
the lair of the leopard. After while
l succeeded in climbing to the top
Of a huge tree that had been blown
down by a tornado. It is at least
ten feet in diameter. When once
lodged there I take a view ofthe sur
roundings. The Apingi are close at
my back. They are evidently afraid,
for myself, 1 do not feel very com
Portable, for you will agree with me
that it is a difficult position to be in,
not to see the exact location Of such
a dangerous enemy as the leopard,
which at any moment might be down
upon my back, his claws fastened in
my shoulders, and his big teeth in
my neck. Such thoughts were not
very reassuring to worn traveller.
| I must confess that I was very
excited. / looked round and round.
The slightest noise made by the
wind through the trees would startle
me. Thought the leopard was close
at hand and ready to spring upon
me. 1 would have give a good deal
to see him. Carefully l came down
the trunk Of the huge tree, and con-
tinued to press forward with my Ap-
ingi into the thickest part of this al
ready very thick jungle.
Suddenly the faces of my Apingi
men become excited. They stop
walking. The strong odor Of the
leopard is clearly perceptible; he is
evidently not far from us. We are
upon the leopard, and he is probably
eyeing us, and ready to make a
spring. We must hurry to see him,
for surely destruction is coming up
on no up1ees u-a dac+Yov tho oD;roo1
Hook ahead into thick bush, where
we're a large number of broken
branches. 1t seems almost dark,
though it is not noon yet, and the
sky is clear, and the sun shines re-
splendently. Everything round is
in gloom. A cold shiver runs
through me. A feeling of insecure
ty begins to possess me. I must
check it, for, if l do not, my arm will
not be steady, and I shall miss the
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