316 THE EASTERN HUNTEES. 



the barking clogs, and dodge about among tlic 

 bushes. Presently, as he rode past the spot a couple 

 of shots were fired in quick succession, close by. 

 He thought nothing of it, imagining that the men 

 and dogs had gone in chase of a hare, but rode on 

 to his tent. While he was yet at breakfast, how- 

 ever, a panther was brought in ; and on inquiry it 

 proved that the shots he had heard fired, were at 

 the animal itself, which had perhaps been waiting 

 in ambush near the road for any stray cow or other 

 animal that might come that way. 



"You might have had a chance of spearing 

 it," said Hawkes, "if you had known of its 

 vicinity." 



" I certainly might have had the chance," replied 

 Norman, " but it is one of which I should have been 

 rather slow to avail myself. If it had been a mere 

 ' cheetur ' (a smaller animal of the leopard tribe) I 

 might have gone in for it. But a panther is a 

 deuced awkward customer to tackle single-handed, 

 with only a spear to depend upon ; and few men 

 would be fool-hardy enough to venture' on it." 



"No," said Mackenzie, "certainly not. I have 

 known of men seriously mauled when riding them, 

 even with a large party. But some fellows will do 

 anything. I remember hearing of a lion being 

 ridden with spears ; and very severely the imprudent 



