x COMPLETION OF THE TSAVO BRIDGE 115 



we disappointed, for about midnight we heard the 

 click of the powerful spring, followed immediately 

 by frantic roaring and plunging. I had been sitting 

 all evening with my rifle by my side and a lantern 

 lighted, so I immediately rushed out, followed by the 

 chankidar (watchman) carrying the lamp. As we 

 approached the shed, the leopard made a frantic 

 spring in our direction as far as the chain would 

 allow him, and this so frightened the chaukidar that 

 he fled in terror, leaving me in utter darkness. 

 The night was as black as had been the previous one, 

 and I could see absolutely nothing ; but I knew the 

 general direction in which to fire and accordingly 

 emptied my magazine at the beast. As far as I 

 could make out, he kept dodging in and out through 

 the broken wall of the goat-house ; but in a short 

 time my shots evidently told, as his struggles ceased 

 and all was still. I called out that he was dead, 

 and at once everyone in the boma turned out, 

 bringing all the lanterns in the place. With the 

 others came my Indian overseer, who shouted that 

 he too wanted revenge, as some of the goats had 

 belonged to him. Whereupon he levelled his 

 revolver at the dead leopard, and shutting his eyes 

 tightly, fired four shots in rapid succession. Natur- 

 ally not one of these touched the beast, but they 

 caused considerable consternation amongst the on- 

 lookers, who scattered rapidly to right and left 



I 2 



