THE LEOPARD 



we struggled on, getting to camp whilst there was still light 

 enough to see our way. 



My own coolies kicked up " Bob's a-dying " at the sight 

 of me, and my cousin was naturally a bit upset ; but he went 

 gamely to work, got out our bandages, carbolic ointment 

 and Condy's fluid, and soon had us both fairly patched up. 

 Such a job would have been nothing to a planter like myself, 

 after many years of home doctoring amongst coolies ; but to 

 him, fresh from home, it was anything but a pleasant task, 

 and I am pleased to be able to record my grateful apprecia- 

 tion of his good offices. I had a dreadful night, the 

 stiffening muscles giving me agony, causing horrible dreams 

 when I dozed off, whilst every leopard in the country-side 

 seemed to hover round camp that night, for I heard their 

 roaring every time I woke. Next day I sent off our only 

 other tracker, nephew of the wounded man, to his village 

 10 miles away for bearers, and they, arriving in the after- 

 noon, made a sort of stretcher for me out of jungle sticks, 

 on which the next day they carried me 15 miles to 

 Kantalay Rest-House, the other wounded man being 

 conducted to his village by some of the men, his re- 

 latives. 



We got back to my bungalow, after a tedious journey 

 of six days in a cart, and I had about a month in bed but 

 eventually recovered all right with no ill effects, as my 

 wounds were really very slight, and I am glad to be able to 

 say the old man also recovered, and has often been out with 

 me since. 



He told me afterwards that when peering into the 

 jungle he suddenly saw the leopard crouched ready for a 

 spring within a few feet of him, and so turned and ran. 

 Without a doubt I had shot at " baby," and it had gone 

 back to " mama," telling her of its adventure, and she 



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