HUNTING THE LEOPARD, ETC. 231 



Btood to look about him, when I sent a second bi llet into his 

 person, and he disappeared over the bank. The ground being 

 very dangerous, I did not disturb him by following then, but I at 

 once sent Ruyter back to camp for the dogs. Presently he 

 returned with Wolf and Boxer, very much done up with the sun. 

 I rode forward, and on looking over the bank the leopard started 

 up and sneaked off alongside of the tall reeds, and was instantly 

 out of sight. . I fired a random shot from the saddle to encourage 

 the dogs, and shouted to them ; they, however, stood looking 

 stupidly round, and would not take up his scent at all. I led 

 them over his spoor, again f.nd again, but to no purpose ; the dog3 

 seemed quite stupid, and yet they were Wolf and Boxer, my two 

 best. 



At length I gave it up as a lost affair, and was riding down the 

 river's bank, when I heard Wolf give tongue behind me, and, 

 galloping back, found him at bay with the leopard, immediately 

 beneath where I had fired at him ; he was very severely wounded, 

 and had slipped down into the river's bed and doubled back, 

 whereby he had thrown out both the dogs and myself. As I 

 approached he flew out upon Wolf and knocked him over, and 

 then, running up the bed of the river, took shelter in a thick bush: 

 Wolf, however, followed him, and at this moment my other dogs 

 came up, having heard the shot, and bayed him fiercely. He 

 sprang out upon them, and then crossed the river's bed, taking 

 shelter beneath some large tangled roots on the opposite bank. 

 As he crossed the river I put a third bullet into him, firing from 

 the saddle, and as soon as he came to bay, I gave him a fourth, 

 which finished him. This leopard was a very fine old male , 

 in the conflict the unfortunate Alert was wounded, as usual, 

 getting his face torn open ; he was still going on three legs, with 

 all his breast laid bare by the first water-buck. 



In the evening I directed my Hottentots to watch a fine pool 

 m the river, and do their best while I rode to a distant pool 

 several miles up the Ngotwani, reported as very good for game, 

 to lie all night and watch : my Totties, however, fearing '< Tao," 

 disobeyed me. On reaching the water I was bound for, I found ii 



