J32 THE LION AND OTHER BEASTS OF PRE'' 



The leopard, abandoning- his prostrate enemy, darted, with 

 redoubled fury, on his second antagonist;" and so fierce and sudde'^ 

 was on his onset, that before the Door could stab the leopard with hi^ 

 hunting-knife, the beast struck him in the eyes with his claws, and 

 even tore the scarf over the forehead. In this frightful condition, the 

 hunter grappled with the raging beast, and, struggling for life, they 

 rolled together down a steep declivity. All this occurred so rapidly 

 that the other man had scarcely time to recover from the confusion into 

 which his feline foe had thrown him, to seize his gun, and rush forward 

 to aid his comrade, when he beheld them in mortal conflict, rolling 

 together down the steep bank. In a few moments he was at the 

 bottom with them, but too late to save the life of his friend, who had 

 so gallantly defended him. The leopard had torn open the jugular 

 vein, and so dreadfully mangled tiie throat of the unfortunate man, 

 that his death was inevitable ; and his comrade had only the melancholy 

 satisfaction of com])leting the destruction of the leopard, which was 

 already much exhausted by several deep wounds in the breast, from 

 the desperate knife of the expiring huntsman. 



On one occasion, a ])air of leopards, with three cubs, entered a . 

 sheep-fold at the Cape of Good Hope. The old ones killed nearly a 

 hundred sheej). and regaled themselves with the blood. When they 

 were satiated, they tore a carcass into three pieces, and gave a part to 

 each of the ctibs. They then took each a whole sheep, and thus laden, 

 began to move off, but were discovered in their retreat ; the female and 

 the cubs were killed, while the male effected his escape. 



The leopard resembles in its habits the lion and the panther, but 

 he is not so powerful. In one respect, however, he is superior to them ; 

 that is the extreme pliability of his spine, which gives him a degree 

 of velocity and agility surpassed by no other animal. With such 

 astonishing rapidity does he climb trees, that few animals are safe 

 from his ravages. Man alone seems to excite some respect; but if 

 pressed hard in the pursuit by the hunter, he will ttirn upon him, and 

 it requires both skill and prowess to giianl against a leopard's attacks. 

 Many instances have occtirred of man becoming h's victim, althotigh 

 generally he must be pressed to the onset ; as when impelled by hunger. 



Sometimes leopards are used in the pursuit of antelopes. On these 



