The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1914-03-19
UNDER A LEOPARD
And lust Within the Reach Of the
Jaws OF Death.
COOL NERVE OF A BRAVE BOY
coura1 30. Presence OF Mind and Lucky
Knife Thrust Put Him Out of Peril.
Curious Experience With Vicious
Man Eater In South Africa.

Man Eater In South Africa.
"Bulala Taylor was one of the early
settlers in tue South African country
that Is now AlatabeIeland. He was
the Chartered rompiny's right hand
man In those days. aud the natives
held him in wholesome respect. More
than once he checked threatening dis.
order almost single handed. and when.
| ever there was an uprising 1t WIS Blu.
!, lala who took command OF the white
forces. But this Is II story Of Bulala
| juniur. his SON. Il stocky little chip Of
| the old block. 1t happened during one
/, Of the fathers absences In the beld.
| The yoiin2sier. left In charge OF the
! family commissariat. spent Two or
three evenings each week in hunting
and with inyarable success. for be
was Il '.crick' shot. for I'LL his youth.
One morning he was late- hours late.
His mother became anxious AMI sent
some Iintfirs ont TO take up his spOor-
A little way out they met his horse
limping home. shivpring aud bleeding
from many wounds.
The little b;,ns must be killed.
The atlirs were ctr along the track
as fast nv their feet would carry them.
They wanted 10 save the boys re
mains before the lion could eat them.
They found the rrnnins-of Il leopard
land Bnlaln junior was calmly skin.
ming them. A few feet away was the
torn carcass Of freshly killed buck.
In awe the Kaffirs squntted ronnd
and with only the intersection ~ an
occasional '.Aough.." vi admiration
listened to the manchid's story,
-lnslnbe.T said Rulala ianior. nd
dressing himself to the oldest kafflr.
"you see the little duykerbok. killed
him. anil he nfterward saved my life
thought the box would br enough
meat for all OF ris. and was slowly rid
| Ing home. The ground WIS stony and
| the hush thick. The sun made ine
,lrowsy. and wasn't careful tu look
! about me. The horse had to pick MS
way. Just ns he turned tlmt big bush
he almost ram over this leopard.
! u don't know which was must sur
priSetl. the horse or the leopard or /.
rhe leopard had no time TO turn back:
be lust hid 10 spring. Before my eyes
could open and close twice the leopard
was on my horses shoulders. trying to
get grip with his claws into the box
| lii front OF me.
.srhe horse sq,ie;lied and jumped.
my gun flew ont of my hands. and |
found myself lying on my back ON the
ground The little box was lying
across my stomach and legs. and the
leopard WAS cIawing and biting him
| frantlcally. | felt the blood from his
body trickiing through my shirt. In.
simbe. / wiis frightened.
"l'rom the corners OF my eyes saw
my rifle. but 1t was too far OF to reach
| jus, had 10 lie md play dead. II
y moved Il muscle and the leopard saw II
he would give me one blow and finish
me. Once or twice he looked up al
me. nni through my half closed eyes
saw the blood dripping from hi:
jaws Ii was lucky he was SO hungry
n, "At last his hunger wore off. In
simbe. He got to his feet. and came
aud smelled my face. Spots of thicl
! blood dripped on to my cheeks. oh. In
| simbe. did you ever lie and let {
snakes tongue lick your face? III
: breathed over me and smelled me care
, fully, then. satisfied was dead. wen
back to his meal.
For minutes which seemed lik'
hours the leopard tore and chewet
: and as be became less hungry he be
, came more particular. Two or tire,
times be changed his position and eacl
time wanted to shout in fear. If
could only get at my hunting knife
t which / could feel in my belt; but
: dared not move.
$ AT last the beast began to drag tn
r box Off me in order to gee at It's othe
a side. AS the box slipped or ] movet
with ii as part of 1t. And | graspet
my knife, Even then ! dared not &c
up. just waited and waited. A
: last chance came TO make my on
: stab. was desperate. and | took ii
The leopard stood up to stretch him
SELF aud looked away from me.
Il jumped to my feet and made I
blind slash at his hind quarters. Thel
: sprang away; not bit too sool
! either. See my shirt. lnsimbe?
> He leaped ON me and his fore paw
grazed me and threw inc on my face
When scrambled up again an,
reached my rifle be had collapsed ant
: was swapping and splitting like a cal
My wild cut had hamstrung his nea
hind leg.
> 'Ho only sat and snapped for an in
? slant though; then the pain and ange
] made him mnd and he rushed at me d
: three legs.
! Il shot him. See how the hair
!. singed round the bullet hole, lnslHbe +: