Telegram-herald., 1889-09-17
IN A LEoPARo's osN.
a H0tesators fnshs for Iite in Marrow
oa.rt.rs- at. frast. Oid Fiiatioek-

Ore day. while looking cut for box,
Cigar came across the spoOr " = leopard,
a beast far more cunolng than a lion
The H0ttentots ggn Waz Al Old Ilns-
lock muskes, Which did not always 20
OF. But be was nearly Out ot sm munl-
tion and the leopArd's skin would buy
him trade bag OF powder 80 ne fol
lowed the le0pard's spoOr from stone -
brush, and from stump - tree. The
chase was a long one and led the
hunter 20 rocky raylne, where
the tracking would have been dim
cult aud dangerous had not pack
OF baooons Unexpectedly come 70 his
aid.
When the baboons discovered II cir
enemy stealthily creeping among the
rocks, they followed al safe distance,
hoNling Qua their rage and hatred.
Cigar heard the cries and made for an
elevated rock, whence be saw the leop-
ard ascend the opposite side OF the
ravine al6 enter cleft in the rocks.
Knowing that the leopard had gone
into her den, Cigar selected hiding
place within easy range OF the ledge
on which the cave opened, and waited
for the animal 70 come out. As soon as
the bAboons began 20 howl the
leopard came forth from her den,
followed by two cubs about twelve
weeks old.
Thereupon the baboons forsook the
HottentOt and directed their attention
20 the leopard, who had extended her
self upon the ledge, and lay on her side
in order that the bs might more easily
take their food. Cigar having taken
tine for steady aim al her heart, fired
and the beast rolled over on her back
dead. The cubs ran into the cave and
the balloons scuttled up ne rocks.
Cigar ran 70 the ledge, skinned the
leopard, kicked the carcass into the
ravine, and then considered how he
should secure the cu bs alive.
The interior OF the cave was dark,
and low IN the roof, but smooth on the
foor, which was thickly covered with
sand Cigar crawled on his stomach TO
tho end Of the cave. where he groped
about and soon touched splitting and
Kissing cub. With much trouble and
many scratches and bites he secured IL
and brought IL out into the daylight,
where be left IL lying on the ledge with
its four feet TIED together. On re-enter-
ing the cave Cigar took with him his
loaded musket, thinking that the father
might return and discover him rifing
his home. The second cub had
squeezed itself into such a deep
crack that it took the Hottentot
half an hour TO draw il out. While
tying its feet the little light failed. al
was dark within. There could be but
one cause for the darkness, and the
Hoteentot prepared for the fight that
must end in the death of hunter or
leopard or both. He knew even in the
darkness whore 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
IL had to advance slowly, stretching
out its body TO i.s full length. Anx-
fousiy Cigar took aim; the report an
swered the swapping of the lock; the
leopard was struggling in front of the
man.
Tho Hottentot reloaded his gun-a
slow process on account of the con-
strained position-and than, knowing
that the wounded beast was struggling
toward him, showed forward the musket.
Its muzzfe touched Che leopard's body.
Cigar pushed the gun and pressed the
trigger. There was stunning report
and then all was still. He had won. 1t
took him long time to crawl over the
dead beast, so closely was il wedged in
the passage, and longer time TO draw
out the carcass. HIS first shot had
smashed the animals lower jaw, and
the second had entered the chest and
passed along the spine TO the root OF
the tail. where it lodged. The brave
hunter sold the cubs and the skins TO a
party of English gentlemen for nearly
$50 in trade and cash.