SHOOTING TRIPS IN CENTRAL PROVINCES 83 



up with me, probably because he was scared to death at 

 the thought of the ghosts and devils said always to haunt 

 such places, suddenly nudged me on the shoulder. I looked 

 round and then down in the direction of his gaze. I have 

 said that on either side of the gateway and below the stair- 

 way there were a few small cells, probably used as sleeping- 

 places for the men-at-arms or some such similar purpose. 

 The entrances were mostly overgrown with cUmbing plants 

 and low undergrowth. From one of these cells a large 

 leopard had suddenly emerged and now lay crouching half 

 in the full sunlight, half in the shadow of a big boulder in 

 the inner court below us. Her beautiful coat with its ringed 

 spots glowed richly in the bright rays of the sun, whilst the 

 portions in shadow looked black as night. I could just see 

 the tip of her tail moving slowly from side to side as she 

 lay snarling up at us. 



I was so lost in conjuring up memories of the dim past 

 of this place that for the moment I took it as perfectly 



<>^'J^!i^-=^-^-^ 



natural that a leopard should be down there ; for most 

 Indian Princes and Chieftains keep chained or loose pets 

 of this nature and have always done so. 



Then realization came and I moved out my hand feeling 

 cautiously for the rifle which I had laid carefully on the 

 unbroken piece of the battlement not far off. I did not 

 remove my eyes from the leopard, and it was some time 

 before I could feel the rifle — a -500 express. Lifting it 

 slightly so as to avoid scratching it as far as I was able I 

 drew it towards me. I had nearly got the weapon on to my 

 knee when the leopard shifted its position so as to face the 

 gateway. I could not Swear to any distinct movement on 

 her part. I only know that whereas she had been at an 

 angle to it she was now facing it, and her movements to 

 reach this position must have been almost imperceptible. 



As I hurriedly raised the rifle she leapt for the gateway 

 and went clean through it in the bound, I pulled the trigger 



