-* Leopards 



was dragging it along by the neck. The animal noticed 

 me the moment that I, hindered by some branches, 

 lifted up my rifle to shoot, and it disappeared with a 

 lightning-like flash, leaving the monkey behind. The 

 whole troop of them followed him high up in the branches. 

 Unfortunately I had to make up for lost time and to 

 hurry back to camp, and so was unable to seek out 

 the leopard and to kill him. Very likely the " chui " 

 was opportunely chased and devoured by lions ; I know 

 that this happened in two other such cases. 



I have several times come in contact with leopards 

 in various parts of the velt, especially when I have 

 approached their haunts, which, during the midday hour, 

 are generally in the tall grass. Once I nearly trod on a 

 leopard. It was out in the open, and he slipped out from 

 between some bushes so suddenly that I involuntarily 

 started back. I missed my first shot at him, and 

 although my second wounded him I did not bring him 

 down. 



To shoot a leopard in full flight with a rifle is a most 

 difficult feat. You have reason to rejoice if you miss 

 completely, and do not merely graze him, for a wounded 

 leopard is a most dangerous opponent. At first I could 

 not forbear shooting at a leopard whenever I came upon 

 one, but I learnt by experience to become more cautious. 



How dangerous a leopard can be was brought home 

 to me by one experience 1 had. I had discovered a track 

 in the sand made by a leopard trailing some booty after 

 him. Cautiously I approached a gully made by the rain 

 to which the track led me. I had soon made the circuit 



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