Pelts 



or more, and then the animal suddenly dis- 

 appeared. When we arrived at the spot we saw 

 that there was a slight drop into a small nullah. 

 Going down this, we looked up the ravine, and 

 there, not 30 yards away, was our friend the 

 leopard again, sitting on his haunches, licking 

 his paw and cleaning his face. The elephant 

 halted, and I watched him with great interest. 

 I could scarcely have credited the fact had I not 

 seen it myself, that a leopard would have spent 

 so many minutes so close to three men and not 

 have realized their proximity, even though they 

 were upon an elephant. 



That leopard spent some five minutes in his 

 ablutions, now and then stopping to cast a glance 

 at the elephant. Then with a final stare he 

 turned round and trotted off up the ravine, and 

 disappeared round a corner higher up. 



We continued on our way, I well content that 

 I had not had a rifle with me. 



