CH. v] CHEETAHS 121 



wonderfully, risiiio- to the surface or sinking to tlie 

 })ottom at will, and they gallop at speed along the 

 bottoms of lakes or rivers, with their bodies wholly 

 submerged ; but as is natural enough, in view of their 

 big bodies and short legs, they are not fast swimmers 

 for any length of time. Tliey make curious and un- 

 mistakable trails along the banks of any stream in which 

 they dwell : their short legs are wide apart, and so when 

 the)' tread out a path they leave a ridge of high soil 

 down the centre. AVhere they have lived a long time, 

 the rutted paths are worn deep into the soil, but always 

 carry tiiis distinguishing middle ridge. 



'I'he full-jacketed Winchester bullet liad gone straight 

 into the brain ; the jacket had lodged in the cranium, 

 but the lead went on, entering the neck and breaking 

 the atlas vertebra. 



At Juja Farm many animals were kept in cages. 

 They included a fairly friendly leopard, and five lions, 

 two of which were anything but friendly. There were 

 three clieetahs. nearly full grown ; these were con- 

 tinually taken out on leashes, JMrs. McMillan strolling 

 about with them and leading them to the summer- 

 house. They were good-tempered, but they did not 

 lead well. Cheetahs are interesting beasts ; they are 

 aberrant cats, standing very high on their legs, and with 

 non-retractile claws like a dog. They are nearly the 

 size of a leopard, but are not ordinarily anything like as 

 ferocious, and prey on the smaller antelope, occasionally 

 taking sometliing as big as a half-grown kongoni. For 

 a short run, up to say a quarter of a mile or even 

 perhaps half a mile, they are the swiftest animals on 

 earth, and with a good start easily overtake the fastest 

 antelope ; but their bolt is soon shot, and on the open 

 plain they can readily be galloped down with a horse. 



