1 88 THROUGH GASA LAND. 



the truant home I made a detour so as to get 

 beyond him, for he was as active as a cat, nearly 

 as fast, and enduring as a horse, and frequently 

 very disinclined to return to the waggons until it 

 was sunset. Poor little fellow, he had hardly 

 become aware of my presence, and commenced to 

 indicate a desire to avoid me, when a panther sprang 

 upon his back. A less stout or well-conditioned 

 animal would doubtless have broken down under the 

 weight of its foe, although this assailant was far from 

 a large specimen. The ox, with an evident and 

 powerful effort, pulled itself together, and went off 

 up wind at an astounding pace, considering its load. 

 I returned to camp for assistance ; soon after the 

 bullock was found dead, with its jugular vein open, 

 and the shoulders and neck otherwise disfigured with 

 the slayer's claws. When the carcass was cut up, it 

 was remarked by everyone that it appeared destitute 

 of blood, although there was none around where the 

 body lay. Was this the result of accident, or had 

 the panther taken its victim's life by depriving it of 

 the vital fluid ? Unfortunately, at that time I had 

 very few dogs, having given the choice of my pack 

 to the up-country traders ; thus, much to my regret, 

 the despoiler escaped. The ferocity and courage of 

 the panther is so well known among the Zulus, and, 

 in fact, by all up-country races, that they instantly 

 recognise the right of a man to the title of warrior 

 when he has killed one. 



