16 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT, 



of one or both of us ; yet I almost think, if I had 

 had my choice, I would neither have postponed nor 

 refused the conflict. 



" Further, here was a skin worth having, which, 

 with the cubs, would purchase me ammunition to 

 last a year ; and this meant abundance, comfort, 

 and rest. You that always possess these things will 

 never know their value till they are lost to you. 



" Though deprived of the light, it was easy know- 

 ing where my foe was, for his eyes glowed like balls 

 of fire, gradually increasing in size and intensity as 

 the brute approached me. One thing was in my 

 favour, so much so that afterwards I thought that 

 to it I owed my life namely, that the roof was so 

 low that the leopard could not dash in upon me 

 with a spring, but had to advance slowly, as his 

 body was of necessity stretched out to its full length. 



" It was truly an anxious moment while I took 

 aim, for how much depended on the priming not 

 having been spilt from the pan, or upon the flint 

 striking sufficient fire to kindle it, and last, but not 

 least, on my taking a correct aim. But the report 

 answered the pressure of the trigger, and if darkness 

 had reigned before, it appeared additionally intense 

 from the body of smoke that immediately after sur- 

 rounded me. As a proof that the bullet had done 

 its work, I had not been attacked. Still, from the 

 struggling that took place in front of me, it was 

 clearly evident that it had not deprived my foe of 



