Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-29
Ina LeOpard's Den.

Cigar was a Hottentot, and mighty
hunter of both large and small game. His
skill in the use of firearms was so great
that report credited him with having shot
several white men. circumstances made
Cigar the guide and companion in south
Africa of Parker Gilmore, who won his
heart by treating him with kindness. One
night as they sat together on the wagon
box, Cigar told his master the story of an
adventure with a leopard, which we CON
dense from the authors "Days and Nights
in the Desert"
One day while looking out for box,
Cigar came across the spoor of a leopard,
a beast far more cunning and dangerous
than lion. The Hottentot's gun was an
old flint lock musket, which will not al
ways go off. But he was nearly out of
ammunition, and the leopard's skin would
buy him a trade bag of powder: SO he
followed the leopard's spoor from stone
to brush and stump.
The chase was long one and led the
hunter to a rocky ra-ine, where the track
ing would have been difficult and danger
Gus had not pack of balloons unexpect-
eddy come to his aid. When the balloons
discovered their enemy stealthily creep
ing among the rocks they followed at a
safe distance, bowling out their rage and
| hatred.
Cigar heard the cries and made for an
! elevated rock, when he saw the leopard
ascend the opposite side of the ravine and
enter cleft In the rocks. Knowing that
the leopard had gone into her den, follow
ed by two cubs about twelve weeks old.
As soon as the balloons began to howl
she came forth with her young. There
upon the balloons forsook the Hottentot
and directed their attention to the leo
pard, who had extended herself on the
ledge, and lay on her side in order that
the cubs might more easily take their
| food.
Cigar having taken time for a steady
| aim at her heart, tired, and the beast roll
| sd over on her back, dead. The cubs ran
into the cave and the balloons scuttled up
the rocks. Cigar ran into the leda e,
skinned the leopard, kicked the carcas
into the ravine, and then considered how
he could secure the cubs alive.
The interior of the cave was dark and
low IN the roof, but smooth on the floor
which was thickly covered with sand.
Cigar orawled on his stomach to the end
of the cave, where he CROPPED about and
| soon touched a kissing and splitting cub.
With much trouble and many scratches
and bites he secured it and brought it out
into the daylight, where he LETT it lying
on the ledge with its four feet tied to-
gether.
On re-entering the cave Cigar took with
him his loaded musket, thinking that the
| father might return and discover him riff
ing his home.
The second cub had squeezed itself in
to such deep crack that it took the Hot.
tentot half an hour to draw it out. While
tying its feet the little Zig hit failed, all was
dark within. There could be but one
cause for this darkness an d the Hotten tot
prepared for the fight that must end in
the death of the hunter, the leopard or of
both.
He knew, even in the darkness where
his foe was, for the leopard's eyes glowed
like balls of fire. The roof was SO low
that the animal could not spring upon
the hunter and it had to sdvance slowly,
and stretching out its body to its full
length.
Anxiously Cigar took aim; the report
answered the swapping of the lock; the
leopard was struggling in front of the
man. The Hottentot reloaded his gun
a slow process on account of the con.
strained position-and then knowing that
the wounded beast YVES struggling toward
him, showed forward the musket. Its
muzzle touched the leopard's body.
Cigar pushed the gun and pressed the
trigger. There was a stunning report and
then all was still. Ee had won.
II took him long time to crawl over
the dead beast, so closely was it wedged
in the passage. The first shot had smash
ed the lower jaw and the second entered
the chest and passed along the spine to
the root of the tail.
The brave hunter sold the Cubs and the
skins to a party of Englishman for nearly
$50 in trade and cash.
Rains have fallen III western and east
ern India and the crop prospects are
consequently approved.