120 WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS CHAP. 



Buffering from fever, and he himself evidently had the poison of 

 malaria in his system. 



A bullock had been tied up the preceding evening within 

 three-quarters of a mile from our camp, and on the morning of 

 April 1 this waa reported to have been killed. We accordingly 

 sallied out, and in a few minutes we found the remains, above 

 which the vultures were soaring in large numbers. The high grass 

 had been partially burnt, and large patches remained at irregular 

 distances where the fire had not penetrated, or where the herbage 

 had been too green to ignite ; however, all was as dry as tinder at 

 this season, and having formed the elephants in line, I took up a 

 position with my elephant about 300 yards ahead. 



The elephants came on in excellent formation, as Mr. Sander- 

 son was himself with them in command ; presently I saw a long 

 tail thrown up from among the yellow grass, and quickly after I 

 distinguished a leopard moving rapidly along in my direction. 

 For a few minutes I lost sight of it, but I felt sure it had not 

 turned to the right or left, and, as a clump of more than ordinary 

 thick grass stood before me, I concluded that the animal had prob- 

 ably sought concealment in such impervious covert. 



When the elephants at length approached, I begged that half 

 a dozen might just march through the patch within a few yards 

 of my position. I was riding an elephant called Rosamond, which 

 was certainly an improvement upon my former mount. 



Hardly had the line entered the patch of grass when, with a 

 short angry roar, a leopard sprang forward, and passed me at full 

 speed within 25 yards ; and immediately turned a somersault like 

 a rabbit, with a charge of 16 S.S.G. from the No. 12 fired into 

 its shoulder. 



This was very rapidly accomplished, as our camp was within 

 view, certainly not more than a mile distant. 



We placed the leopard upon a pad elephant, and sent it home ; 

 while we once more extended the line, and as usual I took up a 

 position some hundred yards in advance, in a spot that was toler- 

 ably clear from the high grass. 



Almost the same circumstance was repeated. I saw another 

 leopard advancing before the line, and pushing my elephant forward 

 to a point that I considered would intercept it, I distinctly saw it 

 enter a tangled mass of herbage, hardly large enough to shelter a 

 calf; there it disapj>eared from view. 



The line of elephants arrived, and no one was aware that 

 another leopard had been moved. I pointed out the small clump 

 of grass, and ordered an elephant to walk through it. In an instant 



