The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-08

ing logs, while numbering in America, not to
feel at home at this kind of work. and, ali in
all, though I did not travel very far, spent
one of the most enjoyable trips ] ever had.
Entomology and ornithology I could also
study TO my hearts content, and / could gen.
orally get buck when / wanted one, while
the animals was mainly seeking-leopards-
were far from uncommon.
Having got everything fixed on my raft, and
as the river bereabouts was familiar to me, |
had no difficulty in making landing. / had
with me hammock and poncho which had
used out in the Banda Oriental, both Of which,
besides being of the greatest use. went into a
very small compass. The boxes were lined
with tin. on account of the ants, whose peril
nacity knows no ceasing.
After taking a cup of coffee without milk
and snack or two of spring box, literally
turned ia, with ray carbiue beside me and my
dog cured up at my feet.
In the morning, as fresh bit of venison
would he an agreeable change. started after
what knew would furnish NE Herewith, If l
could manage to circumvent them. This was
not particularly difficult, for / could keep my
self covered by one anthiil or another, and
got my buck all right, sending the rest bound
ing away with tremendous jumps
After skinning him and making the hind
portions into ham and getting meal of fresh
meat, set out along the bank of the river to
see if / could hit upon any leopord speOr. L
hsd not gone far before came to the remnants
of a porcupine Leopards appear to have n
great partiality for the flesh of these animals,
and as they are common enough along the
Orange River, it doubtless accounts for the
presence of their prosecutors. l hunted Tor
- c.
signs, although felt satisfied that there were
so ,e leopards in the peighhorhood. H
Next morning ] got afoat once more and
dropped about four miles lower down. / was
soon fast again in kind Of back water. with
my traps once more on dry land. had hard y
proceeded quarter of a mile before found
png-maTks, and quite fresh ones too, where he
had gone down to drink.
This time the heavy rains had not washed
all trace of spoor and scent away, and my dog
was able to pick it up easily. followed Snap
with some difficulty. for | did not want him TO
come to an untiIneiy end.
The spoor led along the bank close to tho
river for some distance, at which the leopard
had occasionally halted, either to drink or to
watch for stray fsh; for these latter they
will scoop out with the dexterity of a raccoon,
as myself once saw. In fact. they will eat
almost anything that noves-youpg birds. and
for the matter of that old ones, too, when they
can surprise them A cat which has run wild
at home is fair example Of what the leopard
is on larger scale.
The dog came to point at the foot OF tree,
and after some search, for the foliage was very
luxuriant, could distinguish the leopard ying
full length along branch his head between
his paws, his eyes being just discernible, and
that was all | could not get good shot at
him the angle was too acute to fire with safety
at his head and unless / got directly under
him could not see him at ali. while the limb
he was stretched out upon practically protected
him at all vital points.
Now and again he would just crane over a
little and then draw back again before could
get a proper sight making all the time snari-
ing, pnrring noise. i was compelled TO wait
until he gave me some sort of @ chance. To
have had him come tumbling down wounded
was not a bit to my fancy. In the meantime
| looked about to sec if there were another tree
| near by up which could climb. and actually
| did ascend one but had to give up the idea. fol
| ] could not get a sight of bin at all SO l re-
| turned to the ground.
| Once or twics ] raised my weapon only to
| lower it, feeling it was safer to wait. On
sudden he raised his head. as If some sound al
| a distance had arrested his attention.
| This was my opportunity; not very fRe
| one certainly, for there was quite network Of
| small branches Intervening. but got pretty
| fair sight and let him have it. Down he came
almost before could jump to one side. with a
| thump that would have stunned him, one
| wouid imagine even if the bullet had moi
smashed his jaw and gone out through the tor
| of his head, bursting eye in its course. HI
| WAS as dead as a door-nail, and a beautifully
marked full-grown young male, his teeth being
perfect
AS Twas only about a mile from camp, go