DANGEROUS CAMK. 



5 



" I think there is enough of your head in sight to make a pretty fair target," 

 muttered Bob, bringing his rifle to his shoulder and sighting at the skull. 



The distance was so short that there was hardly an excuse for missing, and yet 

 that is just what Bob Marshall did do, though we can hardly censure him because 

 of the failure. 



By one of those rare coincidences that occasionally take place, the leopard, 

 from some cause, which cannot be explained, ducked his head almost at the instant 

 the weapon was discharged, the bullet cutting its way through the dense vegetation 

 beyond and above the limb. 



Keeping his weapon elevated, Bob instantly shoved another cartridge into place, 

 and, as the threatening head rose to sight, he let fly three times in quick succession. 



Bob did not score a " bull's eye" each time, but all the same, he hit the leopard, 

 the balls ploughing their way through the outer portions of his head, and inflicting 

 wounds which roused him to fury. 



Confident that he had killed the beast, Bob lowered his gun and looked to see 

 him fall. The leopard came down, but not as the youth expected. 



Instead of tumbling from his perch, limp and lifeless, he emitted a snarling 

 screech, and sprang from the limb straight at the astounded youth, who was almost 

 paralyzed by the sight of the terrible head, streaked with blood, the ears lying flat 

 and the jaws extended to their widest extent. The sharp, carnivorous teeth and 

 needle-like claws were eager to rend the lad to shreds. 



Had Bob Marshall stood motionless in his footsteps, nothing could have saved 

 him, but, in obedience to what may be termed instinct rather than reason, he sprang 

 back several feet, just as the leopard dropped lightly to the ground, and, crouching 

 low, gathered his muscles for a second leap that was to land him on the shoulders 

 of the youth. 



It occurred to Bob that no more appropriate moment for shooting off a gun 

 could be thought of, and I need not tell you that he was not long in acting upon 

 this decision. The style in which he began pumping Winchester balls into the 

 snarling leopard was enough to stampede a drove of elephants. 



But it must not be supposed that the recipient of this bombardment remained 

 quiescent. Hardly had Bob pulled trigger, after the beast landed on the ground, 

 when the dreaded leap was made. 



It was a moment of such fearful excitement that it was impossible for the lad 

 to make his aim as unerring as it would have been had the animal remained sta- 

 tionary for a second or two. Almost before he was aware, the leopard bounded at 

 him with a ferocity that can exist only when the fiercest of wild beasts is in his 

 death-throes. 



Bob had no time to recoil as he did in the first instance, but with admirable 

 presence of mind, and with inimitable dexterity, he dropped to a crouching posture 

 and darted a single step forward. As a consequence, the leopard went clean over 

 him. Bob wheeled and again brought his gun to his shoulder; in fact, hunter and 

 beast had exchanged positions. 



