A TUG-OF-WAR WITH A LEOPARD 



So, taking his rifle, a blanket, and a coil of rope, he started 

 for the place, arriving there at sundown. 



The " kill," a good sized calf, lay in a small clearing in 

 the midst of a dense jungle, and near to it was fortunately 

 a tree on which the doctor, despite his past experience, 

 resolved to pass the night. But before taking up his 

 position, he fastened one end of the rope to the hind legs 

 of the carcass, and, threading the other carefully through 

 some bushes, took it up with him into the tree. Then, 

 having ensconced himself as comfortably as circumstances 

 would admit of, he knotted the rope's end to his waist- 

 belt, and, with the rifle across his knees, commenced his 

 lonely watch. 



Darkness had set in by the time his preparations were 

 completed, but he knew the moon was due at midnight, 

 and that it was unlikely he would need her aid before ; 

 besides, he felt quite sure the alarum he had arranged 

 would warn him, should any attempt be made to move the 

 44 kill." 



He had resolved to keep awake, and for a time he was 

 successful, but the inky blackness of the night, added to 

 the absence of all sound, were powerful narcotics, and 

 yielding gradually to their influence, he soon dropped off 

 to sleep. He had slept, how long he could not say, when 

 suddenly a violent pull at the rope nearly jerked him off 

 his perch. He woke up with a start only just in time to 

 save his rifle falling through the branches. 



There was a moment's pause, and then a sound of 

 something moving in the jungle. The doctor, now 

 thoroughly awake, placed the rifle between his knees, and, 

 gripping the rope with both his hands, awaited further 

 developments. Presently he felt another strain upon the 

 rope, accompanied by a low, snarling kind of growl, and, 

 the next moment, found himself measuring his strength 

 with some unknown and powerful opponent in a regular 

 tug-of-war. 



The strange contest continued for some time, neither 

 side willing to relinquish the object in dispute ; but soon 

 the rising moon, hitherto concealed behind the trees, shed 

 her light upon the scene, revealing to the sportsman the 

 peril he was in. For there, scarce twenty paces from him, 



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