The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-11-12
UNDER 4 LEOPARD
And lust Within the Reach of the
laws of Death.
COOL NERVE OF A BRAVE BOY
Courage, Presence of Mind and a Lucky
Knife Thrust Put Him Out of Peril
Curious Experience With Vicious
Man Eater In South Africa.

Curious Experience With a Vicious
Man Eater In South Africa.
"Bulala" Taylor was one of the early
settlers in the South African country
that is now Matabeleland He was
the Chartered company'S right hand
man i'll those days. and the natives
held him i'll wholesome respect. More
than once he checked threatening dis
order almost single handed, and when
ever there was an uprising it was Blu
ala who took command of the white
forces, But this is Il story Of Bulala
junior. his son. ii stucky little chip of
the old block. II happened during one
of the fathers absences in the field
The yOun->tcr, left in charge of the
family commissariat, spent two or
three evenings each week in hunting
land with invariable success, for be
was crack" shot. for all his youth.
one morning he was late-hours late
His mother became anxious and sent
some katiirS out to take up his spoor
A little way ont they met his horse
Humping home. shivering and bleeding
from many wounds.
The little baas must be killed.
The kattirs were of along the track
as fast rs their feet would carry them.
They wanted to save the boys re
mains before the lion could eat them
They found the remains-Of a leopard
and Bulala junior was calmly skin.
ming them. 4 few feet away was the
torn carcass of n freshly killed buck
In awe the KafTirs Squatted round
and with only the interjection of an
occasional "AOu%h." of admiration
listened to the man-child's story.
"lnsmbe." said Bulala junior. ad-
dressing himself to the oldest Kaflir.
You see the little duykerbok | killed
him. and he afterward saved my life
thought the box would he enough
meat for all of us. and was slowly rid
ing home The ground was stony and
the bush thick. The sun made me
drowsy. and wasn't careful IL look
about me. The horse had to pick his
way. lust as he turned that big bush
he almost ran over this leopard
IL don't know which was most sur
priSed. the horse or the leopard or /.
The leopard hau no time to turn back:
he just had 10 spring Before my eyes
could open aud close twice the leopard
was on my horses shoulders. trying t.
get a grip with his claws into the box
in front of me.
The horse squealed and jumped.
my gun flew out 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 clawing and biting him
frantcally. | felt the blood from his
body trickling through my shirt. In
simbe. WAS frightened.
Prom the corners of my eyes | saw
my rifle. but it was too far off to reach
just had TO lie and play dead. If /
moved muscle aud the leopard saw il
he would give me one blow and finish
me. Once or twice he looked up at
me. and through my half closed eyes
| saw the blood dripping from his
jaws. 1t was lucky he was so hungry.
At last his hunger wore Off. In
simbe. He got to bis feet and came
and smelled my face. Spots OF thick
blood drpped on to my cheeks oh. In
simbe did you ever lie and let n
snakes tongue lick your face? He
breathed over me and smelled me care
fully then. satisfied / was dead. went
back to his meal
For minutes which seemed like
hours the leopard tore aud chewed
and as he became less hungry he be-
came more particular. Two or three
times he changed his position and each
time ! wanted 10 shout In fear If |
could only get at my hunting knife
which | could feel i'll my belt; but /
dared not move.
AT last the beast began to drag the
box off me in order to get at its other
side. As the box slipped Off / moved
with 1t as part of it. And | grNspeC
my knife. Even then dared not get
mp. / Just waited and waited At
last chance came to make my one
stab. was desperate. and | took it,
a
self and looked away from me
Il jumped TO my feet ana made IL
blind SLASH at his hind quarters Then
/ sprang away; not a bit too soon
either. See my shirt. lnsimbe?
He leaped on me and his fore paws
grazed Inc and threw me on my face,
When / scrambled up again ana
reached my rifle be had collapsed and
was swapping and splitting like cat,
My wild cut had hanstrung his near
hind leg.
He only sat and snapped for an in
slant though; then the pain and anger
made him mad and he rushed at me on
three legs
Il shot him. See how the hair is
singed round the bullet hole. lnsimbe:
Youths Companion.
Explained at Last