The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1892-09-23
A Rash Adventure.

amusing their idle hours by setting traps
for the antelopes which abound in the
forest jungles of that coast. On one oc-
casion, the young men found on visiting
their snares that, instead of securing
game, the whole apparatus had disap-
peared, an antelope having apparently
been caught and made it's escape, drag
ging the snare along with it into the jun
gle. The track of the creature being
plainly discernible was Immediately fol-
lowed by the brothers, who, after having
gone about so yards, were brought to
standstill by hearing a sudden rustic
among the leaves, accompanied by low,
menacing growl. This was almost i'm
mediately followed by large leopard,
which, springing out of the thicket, cross
ed few yards in front of them and was
speedily lost to view among the tangle
of brushwood and creepers which hung
in festoons from every tree.
Further search soon disclosed the an
telope, its throat torn open, with the
trap still fastened to its lege, quite dead
among the brushwood. On seeing this,
the brothers (who were not experienced
sportsmen) instantly resolved to secure
the leopard, which was certain to return
at nightfall to devour its prey. Their
plan was to set gun trap i'll such posi-
ton that when the leopard did return it
would inevitably be shot. This accord
ingly was done and the young meu re-
turned to their home, which was not at
any very great distance from the jungle.
About 10 O'Clock the same evening, a
report was heard; the gun had evidently
gone off and, full of excited hope, the
young adventures set off, one with a
lantern containing about two inches of
candle, the other with gun, both broth
ers feeling as sure of success as though
the animal they were pursuing was moth
ing more formidable than a rather large
and bad tempered household cat.
On reaching the jungle, they waded
through tiny brook and forced their
way through the opposing thicket till
they reached the spot where they had
placed the trap. The leopard had, in
deed, been there, though, fortunately for
them, it had contrived to escape, leaving
the bait untouched, while blood and frag-
ments of fur clearly proved that the gun
had not been set in vain.
LET US follow him.' cried the one
brother excitedly; she cannot have trav-
eled far
Without the slightest hesitation, the
other young man assented, though they
had to force their way through the dark
and silent jungle, their only light being
pale crescent moon and morsel of tai
low candle. On, on they pushed, through
the weirdlike trunks of trees, in perfect
ignorance of the danger of their position.
laughing and talking as they freed their
faces from the clinging vines, and bent
down the closer to examine the blood
tracks which guided them on their way
AT length the man who carried the gun,
the elder of the two, stopped.
''Look here, say, open your lantern,
he cried; 81 must have smoke.''
The lantern was handed to him, but
the hinge was stiff and, in trying to oper
it, the whole thing fell to the ground and
the candle went out, but not until the
younger brother had seen with horror
the motionless form of a leopard crouch
ed under tree at no great distance, its
eyes, like two balls of fire ,glaring at him
out of the darkness. 1t was a terrible
position to be in, still he did not lose his
presence of mind.
'Look here, Harry" whispered he to
his brother, 'the brute is there, close be-
side US, and he is alive! Hand me the
gun"
Bnt as soon as any attempt at move
ment was made, with loud, snarling
growl the creature had flown at him, fix.
ed its claws in his shoulder, at the same
time Selling his left arm with his teeth.
Fire, Harry, fret cried the poor
youth in his agony; and Harry, though
almost unnerved by the horror of the po-
sition, attempted to do as we'll as he could
in the almost total darkness. Feeling his
way with his hands, he thrust the muzzle
of his gun past his brother and pulled the
trigger, when the leopard, struggling
convulsively, dropped its hold of the
younger man and fell to the ground. 1t
was not dead, however, as was shown by
its continued snarls and violent efforts to
regain its feet. The two brothers hur-
ried away from the spot as fast as they
could and not a moment too soon, for in
very short time it had partially recov-
cred itself, the rustling of the bushes
behind them showing that it was in full
pursuit and bent on revenge.
And here a new difficulty occurred.
The young men had quite lost their bear
ings, and did not know in what direction
to turn in order to get out of the jungle,
though they felt certain that they could
not be far from it's edge. For a moment
they stopped to consider, their hearts
beating to suffocation, while the younger
mans wounds caused an overwhelming
sense Of faintness, against which it was
almost impossible to bear up. But de-
liverance was close at hand; the gurg-
ling of the little brook was heard at the
same moment that flashing lights and
loud shouts announced that their SER
wants, alarmed at their long absence,
were coming to the rescue.
The leopard skunk back into the thick
ct, where it was found next day stone
dead, having been shot through the neck.
The beautiful spotted skin was carefully
dressed as memento Of this terrible adj
venture, but it must have proved but a
poor consolation to the rash youth, who
had to endure three months of an invalid
life and permanently disabled arm as
punishment for the foolish attempt to se-
cnre a wounded leonard In It's native