THE LEOPARD. 89 



was in the corner, and so I took up my post about four yards 

 from it, in a direct line. The beaters did not come right 

 between me and the spot, but along the hedge, and threw 

 rocks and mud, and shouted. Behind me I had an ex-dacoit 

 with my tulwar, a great curved thing that would behead an Ox, 

 as I thought it might assist me to bag my enemy and prevent 

 him bagging me. I myself was armed with my Martini-Henri 

 sporting rifle. Another of my entourage, a tall big Burman, 

 who has stuck to me ever since, had got mixed up with the 

 beaters. He carried his own da. After a little persuasion, 

 out came ' Spots,' very angry, showing sideways to me and 

 towards the beaters, who vanished. The tall Burman, how- 

 ever, seemed to have made up his mind not to fly, and stood 

 his ground almost directly in front of me, and on the very 

 edge of the bush in which the animal was, and as it jumped 

 out it passed him in its spring. He held his da with both 

 hands and gave a blow with no apparent effect, and then, 

 instead of clearing out of the way, bent down on his hands 

 and knees in a stooping posture. The Leopard, on landing 

 from his spring and seeing all fled before him, and receiving 

 the blow, turned round and promptly sprang on him. All 

 this, however, passed like a flash almost, as I stood at full 

 tension ready to get a clear shot. There presented to my eye 

 was the Burman, doubled up, with the Leopard resting one 

 paw on his head, another across his shoulders, his mouth wide 

 open as if to seize him by the back of the neck, and his hind- 

 legs on the ground. My mind was made up in a moment ; as 

 quick as my eye could take it in I up and let fly. Bang- 

 smoke, and Leopard rolling over the man's head sideways, 

 kicking ; the man rising slowly, not quite sure whether he was 

 whole or not. To make matters sure, as poor ' Spots ' did not 

 seem as dead as might be, I stuck my dagger into his throat. 

 The Leopard was hit in the head, just about the joining of the 



