The National tribune., 1889-10-17
LEOPARD.

Hunting In tho Murree jungle with two on.
GERS Messrs Sanford aud Franks and oil course
the usual tcnt.pltehcrs, grass-cutteis water
carriers, cooks, sbekarries. heaters, etc, Col
Barras was reused from his sleep one night by
" the sound OF furious roaring" aud found that
panther had entered his camp aud attempted
To carry off u dog chained 10 the door of his
tent. Everything having been arranged and
the animal marked down, the party started in
full force the next day determined to bring
hack It's skin. " After the usual hot march of
three or four miles" says ~ g author, " We came
upon the chief shickarre the head huntsmant
who was speedily 20 place us face 10 face with
our hidden foe. On arriving At the scene Of
action we found that the panther had taken up
his quarters 0u "a steep hillside which wns
much more Tricky covered with the caetus
plant than usual. The top Of tho hill was fat,
aud devoid OF cover. The last short rise
up 10 this cniinence was 30 steep that a line of
beaiers had drawn themselves up in t0erable
safety all along the crest, prepared 10 hurl
showers Of rocks aud stones down the steep
dcclivity should the panther assume an upward
course. All, however, maintained at present
an immovahle attitude aud dead silence
whilst IN whisper, scarcely to be heard, our
guide pointed out the exact bush in which the
enemy was said 10 be concealed. We divided
the distance round 1t, and gradually closed In
towards the center Of attract Oh, till not more
than five or six yards separated us from the
bush. Here, where we paused in cir
cumspection, with every sense strained to tho
utmost, no sound struck upon the ear, nor
ala Teal go much as culver warning 10 the
eye But, though invisible to MS, we felt sure
that the animal was aware -four approach. and
that It's eyes were doubtless fixed upon
Us As IT cROUcHED FOR THE SPRING.
The animal could not be started, however. and
Col. Barras continues, Whilst we were discus
sing various ideas, my dog keeper ask ed permis.
sion 10 ascend the slope Of the amphitheatcr on
which We were standing that he might iojn
the line Of bcaters on the ridge above lMr.
mission was accorded 10 him. bat he was strictly
enjoined 10 make circuit outside of the tract
OF bushes, 10 enter which would have been
dangerous. lie had not gone many wards
however, when, with true native pervcrsity,
he struck well into the middle of the cover,
aud stumbled right upon the panther, which To
his no small dismay sprang from bush that
was only few feet In front of him. 9 9
The brute suddenly appeared before us, going
nj great rate through the underbrush AS IL
flashed across small open spaces we all took
snapshots, = as ii strobe along the hill
side aud then vanished into deep ravine."
Only one way Of hunting IL now remained :
the same az Is adopted in case of the tiger un-
der like circumstances; namely, 10 occupy po-
sitions In which the rifles could command the
approaches, and drive the game by n line OF
heaters. Preparations having been made the
signal was given, and " the perfect stiffness was
instantly replaced by wild ghricking u rush
ing sound OF Falling rocks, aud a waving about
Of people and bushes, rs though the whole
mountain were commencing 10 slide into the
valley beneath. No panther could Withstand
such a pressing invitation 10 move rs this was,
aud our friend accordingly started at full gal.
lop for other quarters" but without giving a
fair shot. Presently it was reported that the
game had taken shelter in elnmp of cactus on
the fiat top Of the decliyty. Ascending to this
il was agreed that while messengers were dis
patched for rockets with which 10 disl0dge the
brute from its th0rny defenses, the party should
lunch; so the tiiiin basket was placed by the
shady side of the panthcr's bower ~ .
For few minutes we sat quite still. .
Then 1t occurred 10 MS 10 try and peer through
into the center Of the mass, TO sec if we could
make out anything Of lis present occupant
Not seeing anything, my thoughts
| turned naturally TO the thin basket. There il
stood, just on the other side of Sanford
stretched across him 10 reach il with my right
hand, and had just grasped the handle, when a
succession OF short savage roars broke upon my
ears, mingled with the wild shouts of the ma.
tives, who were evidently being chased by the
now icrocious beast. At this crisis / felt that