Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11

drag himself off almost crushed me. After
many attempts he finally succeeded
Staggering to his feet he turned unsteadily
with look in those yellow eyes which meant
death II he could make an attack MY az
was now flee and I reached for a revolver
which carried in a holster on my right hip.
Lowering his head. the beast Iurched forward.
HIS mouth was within few inches Of my face
felt his hot breath. I fired, the bullet
entering his head under the eye Falling
heavily, he lay few feet from me-
I lapsed into Inconsistencies and the next
thing remember was hearing AIS voice as he
tried to rouse me from my lethargy. After he
had poured a generous portion Of brandy from
his flask down my throat revived.
Al had heard the revolver shot and Judging
That 1 must be at close quarters with the
leopard had hurried into the jungle The
tiger we wanted had not been attracted to the
scene as yet. 1t was fully half hour before
1 could assist AL in the skinning of the big cat.
The jaekals were gathering around. With their
jungle instinct they had senSed the kill. We
Thought 1t best to secure the hide before they
ruined 1t by tearing at the carcass. While we
were engaged in this not very pleasant task
the jackals with angry yelps scampered off,
remarked to Al, There's something CON-
Ing. you may be sure, or those scavengers
wouldn't have rushed away in such q hurry"
had no sooner spoken than we heard the long,
drawn-out cry Of the female leopard calling to
her mate. The cry was down wind and being
repeated occasionally indicated that she was
coming at a speedy rate.
AL" said, "she Is liable to Jump in on us
any moment now"
He replied, Il don't think so, from what
knowledge have Of the habits Of Ieopards one
OF them will not attack two people unless
cornered. In such circumstances they will
dare anything through the desperation of fear
think that she will approach to within q short
distance and conceal herself in the cover of the
jungle. She will wait for us to leave before
venturing near the body of the male"
well said, lit might be a good idea to
conceal ourselves for while she may break
cover
Accordingly left the clearing and hid in
the clump of elephant grass where the male
leopard had lain. After waiting for about an
hour we began to think that the female had
gone of in a different direction. We were on
the point of leaving shelter when Al whis-
pered: Il can hear a slight noise something
scratching among the leaves"
We stopped and listened intently After a
few tense moments we senSed a stealthy ap-
proach Then heard the whimperirg sound
that the female OF the cat tribe makes when
coming close to the male Slowly she came
out from cover and stood in plain view. I said
to AL "She knows we are here" AS I spoke
we left our place OF concealment. She paid no
attention to Flattening herself to the
ground the leopardess crawled on her belly
toward the pelt which was lying near the
carcass. Smiling at it, she gave utteIance to
that strange whining which heard in the dark
lanes Of the forest is often mistaken for the
cry Of q child that is lost. We could not help
but admire the graceful creature. It would have
been an easy matter to have shot her as she
nuzzled the pelt of her mate who would never
more roam the jungles in her company.
had certain sympathy for the poor brute
This prompted me to suggest to Al that we give
her sporting chance for her life. He was of
the same mind. SO fired a couple of revolver
shots in the air. She did not take the chance
we offered. She seemed reused to frenzy. With
q vicious snarl she arose to her feet and took
a few strides in our direction. We were obliged
to act quickly
We both fired, and although our bullets hit
her, one in the jaw and the other in the neck,
she showed surprising vitality. Rising on her
hind legs she paved the air before she fell over
on her side, striking Al glancing blow with
her forepaw as she collapsed. The blow had
sufficient force to stun him and it was 10
minutes or more before he recovered.
In India the sun ushers in the full day with
his first rays of light. The moment we could
see to work we started on the job OF fiaying
the leopardess. While thus engaged Bhuina
and Matuli arrived with the wagons.
IVA, wa (f1ne, fine), exclaimed Bhulna, "the
rajah came to our village after you had left
for this place He wants to see both of you
and talk with you. He is a great shikarrt
himself"
This was good news for we had heard OF
the rajah being a noted hunter and q
thoroughly good fellow. On arrival at the viii
Iage the rajah greeted us cordially. He was
delighted with our success in Kidding the
vicinity Of the leopards.
Copyright, 1917