THE LOWER BENCHES 



ler intended victim could run. This was a tall and 

 very conceited Kavirondo. He fled; but ran around 

 in circles, in and out among his excited companions. 

 The cheetah followed him, and him only, with most 

 single-minded purpose. 



I dared not shoot while men were in the line of 

 fire even on the other side of the cheetah, for I knew 

 the high-power bullet would at that range go right 

 on through; and I fairly split my throat trying to 

 clear the way. It seemed five minutes, though it 

 was probably only as many seconds, before I got 

 my chance. It was high time. The cheetah had 

 reared to strike the man down.* My shot bowled 

 her over. She jumped to her feet again, made 

 another dash at thoroughly scared Kavirondo, and 

 I killed her just at his coattails. 



The cheetahs ordinarily are supposed to be cow- 

 ards, although their size and power are equal to 

 that of other leopards. Nobody is afraid of them. 

 Yet this particular animal charged with all the 

 ferocity and determination of the lion; and would 

 certainly have killed or badly mauled my man.t 

 To be sure it had been wounded; and had had all 

 night to think about it. 



*This is an interesting fact — that she reared to strike instead of springing, 

 tit must be remembered that this beast had the evening before killed a 

 3SO-pound hartebeeste with ease. 



303 



