158 THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



consequence I kept my eyes fixed on a parallel 

 line, eighteen inches or more above the surface of 

 the soil. To do this I was forced to stoop, with 

 one knee upon the ground. I had not been more 

 than a few seconds in this position when almost 

 directly over my head passed what appeared a 

 shadow ; the light at the instant was better than 

 it had been, enabling me at once to see that the 

 marauder was a leopard, and not the animal sus- 

 pected. Springing to my feet, I fired both barrels 

 where I deemed the big cat should be, but I had 

 little anticipation of a successful result. The only 

 thing that struck me as strange was that as soon 

 as my shots were delivered I heard the thief utter 

 his well-known barking grunt, which ultimately be- 

 came fainter and fainter as he approached nearer 

 to the adjoining copjes. That he had dropped his 

 prey, if he had succeeded in making a capture, was 

 certain ; for, with his mouth full, it would have 

 been impossible for him to make this noise. At 

 this conjuncture I was joined by a number of the 

 natives, who asserted that the beast was hit. My 

 opinion, however, was the reverse, for such a result 



