The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1909-07-22
Attacked by the Savage Beast.


Before reached the top, the dog
began barking and | hurried on. as
well as 4. Nould. over the loose stones,
for | did not want to lose my only
remaining dog. He. however, came
yelping back. just as ! gained the top
Of the bank. and at the same time
caught sight of the leopard. which was
making across the open for patch
of thorns a couple of hundred yards
distant was somewhat out Of
breath from scrambling over the un-
even ground. but. taking as careful
aim as could, fired. / knew | had
hit him all right, even II 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, whilst /, not relish
ing his looks. hastily pushed in an
other cartridge. | had not my trusty
Winchester" then, or the leopard
would not have served me as he did.
The weapon | was using was a con-
verted Enfield carbine, which. though
splendid shooter, only took one shell
and required Gaping. | could not get
the cap on before he was upon me.
and over we both went in a heap-l
undermost. He got my left arm be-
tween his teeth. and could feel his
fangs crunching. but seized my long
hunting knife, and managed TO get IL
under his chin and gave a frantic
cash which almost cut his head of.
In the meantime my dog had re-
gained his composure; since he had
seen two of his comrades hattened
out by leopards he had often turned
tail, but he was very useful in track
ing them. | had rolled the skin up
and was just about starting back for
camp. when the dog again attracted
my attention, acting as though he had
picked up fresh scent; and although
| felt pretty sick, still could not re-
sist the temptation and followed him.
first of all hanging up the skin on q
thorn bush. The dog held on and
followed as well as | could for per
haps another mile. fortunately along
the wooded ground the best part OF
the time, so that was shaded to some
extent from the burning sunbeaml
which under ordinary circumstances
would have caused me no inconven
ience, but now almost prostrated me
doubtless had lost consider ably more
blood than | imagined. but the sudden
renewed barking of the dog put new
life into me and I hurried on. The
leopard had hurried on to some rocky
ground. where he had evidently 10
Gated himself. AS he would not prob
ably leave his stronghold for any dog
sat down and rested a while. also
examined the breech OF my carbine
and arranged things as we'll as could
so that no repetition OF the last con
| tretemps" should occur. The dos
was working at a creyice In the rocks
in which had calculated the leopard
was ensconced, and | cautiously ap
preached to investigate. | could, how
ever. neither hear nor see anything al
first, but after a while, as my eye
sight got accustomed to the gloom,
made out two balls OF fire. They
might have been one yard. they Nigh,
have been so yards away, I could not
tell-that did not signify-and taking
steady aim between them, let go
The report was so deafening that
could not have heard any other sound
had there been one, but the eyes
had gone out when the smoke cleared
away and all was still. After waiting
a while, cut limb or two as straight
as ! could find. and splicing them into
one long one, pushed the pole up into
the recesses OF the aperture, and with
drawing II, after twisting 1t around
against some soft substance, found
sure enough, leopard's fur on the end
| now felt no hesitation about coins
in, though this was more easily said
than done. | could with difficulty
squeeze myself through the narrow
opening, and to do so caused me ex
cruciating pain. Once through, how
ever, | had more room. and soor
reached my quarry. which | got Al
last into the daylight. not a little GLAD
to be out OF the business so well.
then had to skin her-a female, and
doubtless mate TO the one had killed
In the morning. Then returning tf
where ! had left the other skin made
tracks for the wagon.