Mr. Perkins and the Leopard. 275 



amid the startled party a big leopard, which dashed 

 through their legs and disappeared into the bush. 

 This animal had evidently taken up its abode in 

 the little tunnelling at the bottom of the shaft, and 

 if Mr. Perkins had jumped down, as he intended 

 to do, perfectly unarmed, a terrible conflict would 

 probably have taken place between him and the 

 leo^^ard, in a small confined space, from which 

 escape was impossible, and Mr. Perkins ^7ould have 

 been very seriously, if not fatally clawed. Snakes 

 and scorpions are constantly found in these old 

 workings and shafts, and explorations and examina- 

 tions of mines are not without their o^vn special 

 dangers. 



T jJ 



