viii THE LEOPARD 175 



regarded us in astonishment for half a second, one dashed off to 

 the left, and the other to the right, across the open plain devoid of 

 bush, or nits, or any obstacle to the highest speed. 



At that same moment a cheetah that had been held in readi- 

 ness leapt airily to the ground, and the chase commenced after 

 the right-hand buck, which had a start of about 110 yards. The 

 keeper simply begged us not to follow until he should give the 

 word. 



It was a magnificent sight to see the extraordinary speed of 

 both the pursued and the pursuer. The buck flew like a bird 

 along the level surface, followed by the cheetah, who was laying 

 out at full stretch, with its long, thick tail brandishing in the air. 

 They had run about 200 yards, when the keeper gave the word, 

 and away we went as hard as the horses could go over this first- 

 class ground, where no danger of a fall seemed possible. I never 

 saw anything to equal the speed of the buck and cheetah ; we 

 were literally nowhere, although we were going as hard as horse- 

 flesh could carry us, but we had a glorious view. 



The cheetah was gaining in the course, literally flying along 

 the ground, while the buck was exerting every muscle for life or 

 death in its last race. Presently, after a course of about a quarter 

 of a mile, the buck doubled like a hare, and the cheetah lost 

 ground as it shot ahead, instead of turning quickly, being only 

 about 30 yards in the rear of the buck. Recovering itself, it 

 turned on extra steam, and the race appeared to recommence with 

 increased speed. The cheetah was determined to win, and at this 

 moment the buck made another double, in the hope of shaking off 

 its terrible pursuer ; but this time the cheetah ran cunning, and 

 was aware of the former game ; it turned as sharp as the buck ; 

 gathering itself together for a final effort, it shot forward like an 

 arrow, picked up the distance that remained between them, and 

 in a cloud of dust for one moment we could distinguish two forms. 

 The next instant the buck was on its back, and the cheetah's fangs 

 were fixed like an iron vice upon its throat. 



The course run was about 600 yards, and it was worth a 

 special voyage to India only to see that hunt. The cheetah was 

 panting to an extent that made it difficult to retain its hold. 

 There were a few drops of blood issuing from a prick through the 

 skin of the right haunch, where the cheetah's nails had inflicted a 

 trifling wound when it delivered the usual telling blow of the fore 

 paw, that felled the buck to the ground when going at full speed ; 

 beyond this there was no blood, until the keeper cut the throat in 

 the customary manner, and the cheetah, much exhausted, was led 



