Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-29

gone many steps. though. before | saw
something dart from one bush to an
other a short way ahead of me.
couldn't exactly make il out al first,
because the dusk had come on. But
heard growl that told me all I wanted
TO know. | had heard it before and
knew that was at pretty close quarters
with leopard.
II don't like hunting leopards unused
Alr. AkeieS. 1 have never been on the
track Of one Vet without feeling a certain
kind Of dread that | never felt while
hunting lions Tor instance. or any other
kind Of jungle game. As IL was fast get
ting dark in this case. / realized that this
leopard would probably hay" the adNdn-
tage IN a struggle. and had about figured
II our that there was good chahce for
Hie 20 back water. NV nigger Mr. AkeleN
says Niger Of all native Africans went
crazy. though. and was for going into the
bush 10 scar. the old eat out, / Ecp. him
back lh. best ! could bat finally decided
10 take a shot or TWO at the beast. just
for luck.
There was a r5tvine about ten feet deep
and probably ~ feet across just back OF
the bushes whore [ thought the leopard
Was hiding. and ! decided 10 get on the
other side. in the nope that from there -!
might get a good view and "a good shot.
So down started. but when | had about
reached the bottom | saw that tho
leopard was crossing. too. about - or -
feet away from me. My impulse az ouce.
~ course. was to TdiSe my gun and tire.
did shoot once. and then again. II Was
too dark "a toll whether | had hit or not.
All could see Of my shots was the dust
Ihrg Isl led up over tn" leopard. saw
he obi girl drop. though. and WAS half
confident had done for her Just 10
make sure. though. fircd tWo more
shots aud WIS starting toward hey. the
Niger. OF cotsrSc. shouting and dancing
with %lee because we had brought down
such game
FURIOUS RUSH Ok THE HUNTERS.
but We didn't have q chance to get
far declared Mr.. Akeicy. warming up 10
I he thrilling part of his story. IN an IN
slant the Old cat was up. switching her
tail ana Snarling viciously with her pain.
She WAS growing furiouslN. and all ut
once she started for Us II doesn't take
leopard long TO 20 - feet. but Just as she
started realized that ] hadn another
shell III my gun. | had one in my hand.
remembered. though how the remeni-
hrance came at such a time is more than
| cam figure out NOW. For an instant
was paralvZed with fear and perfectly
helpless, But il was only for an instant;
Somehow I opened my gun ana managed
to get that extra Shell into it, stepping
aside from the old girls path a little as l
lid so. Then raised my gun to Ire. IN
tending TO club it afterward. of course.
and break the force OF the leopard
bound ~ beating her over the head as
she came NJ me.
II fred AZ she WAS i'll the air. | think,
said Mr.. Akeley. "on the last bound
with which she struck me. She was roar
ing furiously and making terrible row.
and | was thinking my time had come.
| would have sold out pretty cheap just
then. But somehow the leopard must
have hit my gun just before reaching me
| think. and was thrown Il little bit OH IN
her spring. Instead of catching me ny
the face. therefore. her teeth landed in
my right biceps. Her hind feet, too. in
stead of landing squarely on my body. as
| She had intended, slipped TO one side and
straddied my right leg. She began snaw-
| ing on my arm the instant she
struck me. of course. but when We Went
down with the impetus of her spring she
| fell on her side and I with my right hand
| down her throat and my left ciutching 1t
| ON the outside. My knees. too: were
| planted squarely on her ribs right over
her lungs. She was on her side aud was
| in front and out of the way OF her hind
| legs. there was no danger OF her ritk-
| ing me with them. She couldn't get them
on the ground, either. to turn herself
| over. and one of my arms was caught IN
| front OF her upper fore paw so there was
no danger from that. If | had spent ten
| leopard for Il tussle | couldn't have iig-
urea ont a better position than had. II
| she had been on her back she could have
| olawed me to death. but she was on her
side and her claws We're of no use to her.
| NO HELP FROM THE BOY.
| when saw the position | had |
shouted TO my niger to bring his knife.
1 a
| good. He could have helped me out very
| nicely with knife, but all he did was TO
| stand where he was and howl for help.
| realized that | was to have it all to my
self so | started in TO put up the best
| fight could. | rammed my right hand
down the old eats throat as far as |
could and batted her head against the
rocks with the other ehok-
| ing With both hard as pos
sble. With my knees. too, pounded ';ha
| orunched in her ribs as hard as could.
,,t-ftt str rio. a a
4 thought | must ultimately get the
worst of it, But while was thinking
This and fighting with all my strength It
| seemed to me that the struggles of the
1 leopard began to weaken. And then l..
| too began to weaken. If the leopard
| ever revived was gone knew. so ! re-
| doubled me efforts to crush anu choke
her life out. She was growing snawing
| and snaring NiciouSly and painfully. but
| noticed that her strength was fast go
ing. The work of my knees over her
| lungs was beginning to be very effective.
| SO | struggled on with what strength |
had. and at last the struggles OF the
| leopard ended. She ceased to scratch ana
| kick and | knew | had her done so |
| pulled my fist from out of her throat ana
| stood up. My niger ran up ut once when
| he saw the leopard lying there Stlll. ana
| handed me my knife. | was tempted 10
use Il on him hut as ! was about to give
him lecture for being such coward
| her ladvship gave couple of gasps as II
she intended to renew the ngnt, tto,y l''I
| ran that knife into her, And then felt
| my strength going. | knew must get
back TO camp TO have my wounds dressed.
! .rhe leopard had gnawed my right arm
from the shoulder to the wrist. WHAT
/ te,.llna OF horror | had when ! rernem,
bered that ulecrous old hyena she mad
been eating thought of blood poisoning
and the sad fate of certain oihef mem
her of our expedition who had been hall
chewed up by Il lion.
LEOPARD SKIN FOR FIELD MUSEUM
so We left the leopard where J ha'