The Dickinson press., 1896-07-25

"And, Taking Steady Aim. Let Co."
ferring to leOpards reminds me of an
escapade had with one of these
creatures some time previously, fur
ther south. AS is SO frequently the
case, had been much disturbed dur.
ing the night by prowling animals.
which found out were leopartls. l
was eNasperated by the loss of my
best dog, and made up my mind, If
possible. tn get 4 fine skin and avellge
his death at one and the same time.
So, making hurried breakfast and
leaving my two Ruffin boys in charge
of things at the skerm, set out with
the only dog I now had left. The
spOor, which was plain enough in the
sand, led away toward the river,
which on either side is hordered for n
quarter of a mile or so with wait-a-bit
thorns and underbrush. After going Il
mile or so, my dog showed extra eager
ness, and pulled up at tree, the bark
of which was nj! scored by the claws
of leopards. A lot of porcupine quilts
also lay around, showing that my
quarry had recently made n meal, OF
which I was glad, for I thought
should be more likely to find him lazy
and lying up. and hence easier to man
age. A little further on I came to a
kloof or ravine, which I had to de-
scend and ascend.
Before reached the top the dog Ee-
gan barking, and hurried up, as we'll
as could over the loose stones, for I
did not want to lose my only remain
ing dog. He, however, came back,
yelping, Just as gained the top of the
bank, aud at the same time caught
sight of the leopard, which was max
ing across the open for a patch Of
thorls about a couple of hundred yards
distant. was somewhat 'out Of
breath from scramblins, over the I'M
even ground. but, taking as careful
aim as could, fired. I knew had
hit him all right, even IL he had not
stopped and bitten at the wound; but
the shot was too far back, as we'll as
too low. At the same instant he
caught sight Of me, while 1, not rel
fshine his looks. hastily pushed in an.
other cartridge. l had not my trusty
Winchester then, or the leopard would
not have served me as he did. The
| weapon l was using was converted
Enfield carbine. which. though q splen-
did shooter, only took one shell, and
also required Gaping. could not get
the cap on before he was upon me, and
over we both went in a heap under
most. lie got my left arm between
his teeth. and could feel his great
fangs crunching, but got hold Of my
long hunting knife and managed to
get it under his chin and give frantic
cash which almost cut his head off.
All this did not take so long to happen
as 1t does for me to relate it. but all
the same. it was pretty lively while il
lasted; and when I crawled from be-
meath 10y row limp antagonist, must
have presented pretty strange ap
pearance, dripping with my own blood
and that of the leopard, which almost
smotherered me. Fortunately, my face
had escaped liberation, but my arm
was almost powerless. Still. went
down to the river and got rid of some
of the obnoxious gore, after which
felt much refreshed; my arm, too, be
gan to lose its numbness. by the way
I had previously had very similal
encounter with one of these animals
which ended in exactly the same man
ner-hy the use of my knife. But Il
return. managed to skin my leopard
"A splendid hide, though he was no
&C large as others have killed. Thi'
leopard only lacernted my arn.. where
as, the one l have just alluded to tor
me up atrociollsly.
In the meantime my dog had re
gained his composure. Since he hat
seen two of his comrades flattened ou
by leopartls. lie often turned tail; bu
lie was very useful in tracking then
l had rolled vi, tic skin and was jus
starting back to camp when the dol
again attracted my attention, ACTIN