Huntsville gazette., 1888-06-09

mounted OF o small pony, and could
not help thinking that the wild beast
might spring upon us as we had to pass
SO close to it.; but it lay quite still.
When we passed, l looked anxiously
round, and saw it rise and walk calmly
into the underwood. My companion
assured me the danger was not from
any onslaught of the leopard, but lest
our horses should take fright and bolt
with us along the narrow path in the
uncertain light
On another occasion we were not so
fortunate. had been to picnic lunch
con with some friends in glade near
the lovely valley of Kujiar. We walked
back, having our dandis CARRIED be-
hind us; and when dusk began to fall
we put the dogs which had accompanied
us into the dandis, knowing it was no
longer safe for them to run by our side.
| At length one of the ladies became
tired, and called for her dandi. 1t was
brought, and set down for her to enter.
| As it touched the ground. the little dog
jumped down to welcome his mistress /;
but in a moment his pretty gambols
were cut short. Like flash great
creature sprang into the road, and snap
ping up poor little Prim, vanished with
the rapidity of thought down the
steep hillside. We felt thunder
struck, and stood for some moments
in Mortified silence gazing down
| into the bushes where the gliding
form had disappeared; but nothing
was to be seen or heard. The elastic
tread of the leopard left no sign or
track; and so noiselessly had it passed,
that we could not tell whether it had
slipped at once to the bottom of the
ravine, or whether it was then lying
only a few feet below us, hidden in the
| brushwood. The latter we imagined
to be the case from the sudden silence
that fell upon the other dogs, which,
instead of whimpering as before and
rebelling against their imprisonment,
now covered, mute and terrified, in
the cushions of the several dandis.
Poor Prim must have been killed by
the first clutch of the cruel claws, for
he never uttered single cry. We
hurried home, grieving much over his
dreadful fate, and the gentlemen of
the party Immediately returned to the
spot with their rifles and beaters; but
nothing was then to be seen of the
leopard.
Shooting parties were frequently or
ganized about this time; but they were
not often successful, owing to the dense
jungle that covered the slopes, and
the impossibility of following the
quarry even when sighted. The best
chance was for a solitary sportsman to
spend night in a tree; but the leop-
ards. though so bold in seeking their
prey under safe circumstances, were
extremely cautious when danger was
at hand, and would generally leave the
bait untouched near which their un-
seen enemy lurked. Traps, too, were
placed on low spur toward Bukloh.
which they were known to frequent;
but very few were caught there that
year.
will conclude with an exciting ride
experienced by young police officer,
who, being suddenly summoned to in
vestigate case at a village some miles
from the station, started off on his
stout hill-pony, accompanied by his
favorlte large retriever. After going a
short distance, he noticed that the dog,
instead of running about as usual, was
keeping close to the pony's heels; and
from continuous rustic in the vegeta.
ton along the side of the road, he soon
perceived that leopard was keeping
pace with them. Having no weapon
but a hunting-crop, he could take no
offensive measures; but calling to the
dog, he induced it to keep close below
the girths on the side fartherest from
its foe. The dog seemed quite to
understand the position, and never
abandoned the shelter thus formed;
and thus the village was reached in
safety, though the leopard, which was
evidently hungry. only relinquished the
pursuit when the mud walls surround
ing the little town were actually en-
tered. Both horse and dog were much
fatigued by the long race along the
steep hill-road, the rider having been
afraid to slacken pace for moment
lest the leopard should thus have time
to make a spring. He was patient
and persevering leopard, and doubtless
dined well that night, though not, am
glad to say, on our friends retriever
| Chambers Journal.