Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1906-04-20
A NARROW SQUEAK.
Fighting Black Leopard
Without Weapons.

MEa IN NOE l was a member Of
wild animal hunting ex-
pedition that worked
IzOEI through the southeastern
EAslEW foothills Of the Himalaya
Mountains in the endea vor to collect
fine and rare specimens for a great
geological park in the United States.
We were not after tigers or elel ANTS
or other well known game of that
kind, but were looking particularly for
such specimens as snow leopards, black
leopards, wild dogs and the queer rae
coon-bear and other similar beasts, of
which there are very few specimens in
captivity.
Owing to the fact tiigt we were try
fng to take animals aye there was
general ord carrying firearms,
and $50 axnasition
wef ~ t,,.N f,,,s,t.,
with W - q. Vt was that
even the white men s1on got into the
habit of entering the Tickets without
arms-not a wise thing to do, as it
turned out.
One hot afternoon while Jim Char |
ters and 1 were sitting in front of
the tent we both saw the gaudy body
of fine boa constructor gliding away |
into the jungle, and we both jumped |
up and followed at once, Jim Char
ters stopping only to snatch a lasso.
which was just the thing for him, as
he had been cowboy in the West |
fer many years.
We had taken several fine snakes
with the lasso, and did not expect any
trouble with this one, so we pressed |
into the jungle without second |
thought.
We were doomed to disappointment, |
however, for the snake had disap- |
peared entirely, and all our search |
proved unavailing. The pursuit led |
us pretty deeply into the jungle. and !
at last when we gave up the chase we |
found ourselves in a little amphithe- |
atre Of rock and bamboo We sat |
down on fallen tree to admire the |
beautiful SPOT. when suddenly Jim |
Charters laid his hand gently on my
arm and said in whisper:
Don't move, Captain, but just squint |
toward your left; we're in box"
| did as he directed and saw some
thing that gave me start, crouchins I
closely to the ground and sGuirming sl-
lentiy and swiftly as serpent. was a |
huge black leopard. Each eye was like
a fiat green disk, and his tail was quiv-
ering and writing in that wicked,
snaky way Thar big cat has when II
is mad. The brute was thin, and q
mere glance was enough to show that
lie was desperately hungry. No doubt
our hunting had spoiled the hunting
for him, and now be was starved into
perfect fearlessness.
This is nice, this is WHISPERED
Jim. without moving head or eyelash.
"He's coming on steadily. Now he's
stopped. Now he's coming on again.
Now he's stopped At this rate he'll be
within springlng distance inside oe ten
minutes
Haven't you any weapon at all
about your muttered |. trying to speak
without even moving my mouth.
"0h. yes | have" said Jim. I've
got g bea. v of weapon to fight
black leopard with. It's a penknirc
that my little sister gave me when !
visited the folks in New York. l guess
that it viii hurt that laapGrd a lot, cap
tain. won't it," And | heard Jim
ehuekle eTen in the face Of the immi-
nent danger.
"IIere lie comes crawling again"
whispered Jim after moment or two.
There's only one thing to do. Re
ready when l give the word. We've
got TO be quick and not miss single
trick"
"What are you going to do?' asked l.
''Just this" said Jim. ITS wild
experiment and may only hurry things
up for us, but if It works we may win
out and get the leopard too, and he's
worth having. not to mention the joke
on him. I'm going to jump up in about
another minute when the beast makes
another crawl, and I'm going to chuck
the noase around his neck. The min
ute I do we must both tail on and
pull ike mad. running as fast as the
beastn let us"
I'm afraid that the beast won't let
US run more than about an inch, 1im,"
said /, before he'll be on us ard get
one Of us sure. I don't think that you
eau moose leopards the way you can
coyotes"
what I'm figuring on, said Ilm, lis
tbs the brute will do what would seem