The Saint Paul globe., 1897-10-14
FIGHT WITH A LEOPARD.
Hunter Kills His Quarry Only After
a Hand-to-Eand Battle.

When I came nearly to the bottom
of the ravine, [ suddenly saw close to
me the wounded leopard in thick
wild plantain cluster, says the Madras
Times. He did not run away this
time, but crouched down and spat at
me like a spiteful cat, laying his ears
back and showing his teeth. L hred
straight at him and must nave MT
him. but he still did not move for
abo1lt an instant. Then with a bound
he came close to me, and just as L was
about to draw knife, sprang on me,
at the same time seiZing the arm With
which l tried to keep him off, and hX-
ing his claws in my shoulders The
pressure was so great that L shrleked
out but there was no one within nVe
miles to help me, and [ knew that
must fight the battle myself for my
life. My clothing being of thick
wooIen texture saved me from serious
laceration, and my right arm being
free, [ plunged my long knife into the
brutes stomach and ripped him up to
the chest, giving him one or two digs
behind the shoulder, which must have
found his Nheart, as he suddenly re-
laxed his hold and fell from me. My
clothing was badly torn, but the flesh
on nv thigh and arm was not so badly
treated.
The struggle was all over in few
seconds but [ had been knocked down,
torn end lost plenty of blood during
the time. I tried to get up, but felt
giddy and queer, and fell back insensi-
BILE. When l came to myself 1T WAS
quite dark. [ was in great agony. as
the pain of the wounds became eXcru-
ciating, and [ felt dreadfully thirsty,
and, though I could hear the ripping
of water a few yards distant, I could
not move, as l was benumbed. The
only chance of any one coming to my
aid seemed to be that the guides would
go home, and, thinking something was
wrong by my absence, would hunt me
up with MY servants to where L lay.
| had several times tried to move, but
the attempt caused me great pain, and
| couldn't stir an inch. Once or twice
/ thought / felt against my shoulder
a movement as of something crawling.
A long time seemed to pass before the
daylight came.
I lay almost fainting and stupid from
pain and cold, but at last determined
to try and load my gun. turned my
head with difficulty and looked down
for my weapon and powder horn. AS
1 looked at my wounded arm L saw
a great brown looking thing lying over
tit was a hideous puff adder that
had crept to me for the sake of the
warmth and had been my companion
for hours. I kept my eyes on him, and
could see a slight muscular motion in
his body every now and then like
breathing The idea came across me
that he had already bitten me and
was drinking my blood. At last the
joyful sound of voices came upon my
ear, but 1 dared not answer lest the
movement made in so doing might en-
rage the adder. AS the footsteps and
voices approached, however, the rep
and then dropped off and glided away
in the cluster and the party, consist
ing of my Lascars, the two guides, and
the Patal, coming up, 1 was released
from my perilous position and carried
to camp on litter of boughs The
leopard was a big male beast seven
feet nine inches long. His mate was
destroyed in a trap a week after, and
the village has thus been rid of two
destructive leopards.