West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-05-21
U.t0ER 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 a Vicious
Man Eater In South Africa.

Knife Thrust Put Him Out OF Peril.
Curious Experience With a Vicious
Man Eater In South Africa.
'Bulala" Taylor WAS one of the early
settlers in the South African country
that H. now Maialcicland lie was
the Chartered oommnys right hand
man In those days. and the natives
held him Ina WhOi,'SuuIe respect More
than once he checked threatening dis.
order almost single handed. and when.
ever there was nm uprising Il WAS Bu
lala who took command of the white
forces Hut this Is story of Bulnla
Junior. his son. n stocky little chip of
the old block. II happened during one
of the fathers absences In the field
The youugStcr. left la charge uf the
family CommiSsHria,. spent two or
three evenings each week In hunting
and with invariable success. for he
was "crack" shot. Tor nll his youth.
One morning be WIS late hours late
His mother became anxious and sent
some katlirs ont To take up his spoor
A little way out they met his horse
hnping home. shIvering and bleeding
from many wounds.
The little baas must be killed.
The kattirs were of along the track
rs fast AS their feet would carry them
They wanted TO save the boys re
mains before the lion could eat them.
They found the rcmains-of n leopard
and Bulula Junior was calmly skin.
ming them. a few feet away was the
torn carcass Of freshly killed buck
In awe the Kafiirs squntted round
and with only the interjecton OF nu
occasional "Aough'" Of admiration
listened To- the man childs story.
"lnsimbe' said Bulalu Junior. ad
dressing himself 60 the oldest Knfir.
'you see the little duykcrbok. / killed
him. and he aftrrward saved my lifr.
! thought the box would bp 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 tu look
about me. The horse had To pick his
way. Just ~ he turned that big hush
he almost run over this leopard
Il don't know which was most sur.
prised. the horse er the leopard or
The leopard haa no time To turn back
he just had to 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 bok
In front OF me
The horse squeaied and jumped.
my gun Jew ont of my hands. and /
l,.t.
ground. The little box was living
across NY stomach aud legs and tn,
leopard was clawing and biting him
frnntically. ! felt the blood FROM his
body trickling through my shirt. In
slmbe, | WAS frightened.
FROM the corners of my eyes 1 saw
| my rife. but 10 was too far on tO reach
just had 10 lie and play dead. II |
moved n muscle and the leopard saw II
he would give me one blow aud finish
me. Once or twice he looked M nt
me. and through my half closed eyes
] saw the blood dripping from his
| jaws. IL WAS ucky he wns 40 hungry.
AT last his hunger wore on I'm
| siinbe. He got 10 his feet ma came
and smellcd my face Spots of thick
blood drippcd OH Ia my cheeks. on. In.
simbe. did yUu ever lie aud let a
snakes tongue lick your face? lie
| brenthed over me aud smpllcd me care
| fully. then satisfied ! was dead went
| back to his meal.
For minutes which seemed ike
hours the leopard tore aud chewpd
and ns he became less hungry he be-.
came more particular. Two or three
times he changed his position aud each
time ] wanted to shout In fear. II
could only get at my hunting knife
which could feel IN my belt: hut
dared not move
AT last the beast began 10 drag the
box off me IN order 10 get at its other
side. As.the bOk slipped of moved
with IL as part OF II. And I grasppd
my knife. Even then ! dared not get
| up. Just waited and waited ~
| last chance came 10 make my one
stab. ] was desperate. aud ! took Il.
The leopard stood mp to stretch him.
self aud looked away from me
II Jumped 10 my feet and made n
blind slash at his bind quarters Then
sprAng away; not bit TOO soon
either. See my shirt. lnsmbe:
He leaped on me and his fore paws
| grazcd me and threw me on my face
When scrambled up again and
reached NY rifle he had collapsed and
was swapping and splitting like IA cat
My Wild cut bad hamStruug lis near
! hind lex.
! He only SIT and snapped for mn IN
stant though then the pain and anger
made him uud and he rushed NJ me un
! three legs.
~ shot bin See how the hair 4.
singed round the bullet bole. lnslmbey
uth's Companion