The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1871-03-31

to see the exact location of such dam
gerous enemy as the leopard, which, at
any moment, might be down on my
back, his claws fastened in my shoul-
ders, any his big teeth in my neck. Such
thoughts were not very reassuring to a
worn traveller.
l must confess that was very much
excited. 1 looked round and round.
The slightest noise made by the wind
through the trees would startlo me. /
thought the leopard was close at hand
and ready to spring upon me. l would
have given good deal to sec him. Care
ful ly came down the trunk of the huge
tree, and continued to press forward
with my Apingi into the thickest part
of this already 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 eying us, and ready to make
spring. We must hurry to sec him,
for surely destruction is coming upon
US unless we destroy the animal. look
ahead into thick bush, where were 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 resplendently. Everything round
is in gloom. A cold shiver runs through
me. A feeling of insecurity begins to
possess me. l must check 1t, for, if
do not, my arm will not be steady, and
| shall miss the monster if | see him.
The thought of home and friends rush
ed to my mind. The feeling of insecu-
rity suddenly disappeared. 1 must
conquer this big wild cat of the forest.
If he is wary, l, too, must be wary.
Whew! halo! 1 see the monster
He is lying on the dead branch of a tree.
| He leaps upo1 the ground and crouches
upon it. His long tail w0gs to and fro,
/ showing that he is enraged. His eyes
glsten with singular light; he is
ready to spring. He springs, but, just
as his body seems to rise from the
ground, a tremendous and deadly steel.
poined bullet goes through his head
and three spears of the Apingi are
plunged into his body. The monster
roll on the ground upon his back, ut
tering fearful yells Of pain that fill the
forest, and drive every little anima
from the neighborhood. BY this time
my breath is taken away. lam SO eX
cited that my heart beats with fearful
quickness. must be pale as death, fol
the excitement is great for, one secont
more, and the monster would have made
his deadly spring, which would hav
been destruction to me.
was glad when the chase was over
and / concluded that l would rathe
chase the leopard at night with goa
tied to tree for lure but then mus
not do as l did before fall asleep wit
tbs egoatiW0ias Jhaye preyig92gg3|y descarll9}s
the goat, it might take me.
, When we got back to the camp ther
) was an immense excitement. Th
} Apingi said that they had killed til
leopard, also, for three of their spear
, had been in his body. 1t was huge ol
fellow. L wish you conld have seen h
teeth and his large paws. What tr
mendous claws it had With blow {
g his paw the monster could have kille
I the strongest man.
: / was greatly pleased to secure III
r animal, for its skin was superb, and
knew that would gladden. the heart
some frienfat home when 1 should pr
T sent it to him.