TWO SNAP SHOTS. 159 



could only have been a mere chance. Firebrands 

 were nevertheless brought, and a search made to 

 see if blood could be found. In this we were 

 successful, but it was only from the carcase of a kid 

 about two or three weeks old, and, consequently, 

 little larger than a well-grown hare. 



The unexpected reception the big cat had re- 

 ceived at such close quarters had doubtless alarmed 

 him, so in his fright he had dropped his prey. 

 This animal was well known by the natives, as he 

 had been in the habit of paying that identical kraal 

 a weekly visit for some months, and having always 

 succeeded in effecting his purpose without interrup- 

 tion, no doubt a couple of heavy charges of buck- 

 shot whistling about him in close proximity, so 

 startled him as to cause him to forget the object 

 he had in view, and thus drop the prey he had 

 secured. Daylight revealed nothing to justify the 

 supposition that the leopard had been hit scarcely 

 a flattering tribute to my skill in marksmanship. 

 To miss a beast of that size at, say, twenty or 

 twenty-five yards, with a couple of charges of buck- 

 shot even with such uncertain light was indeed. 



