128 LEOPARDS AND PANTHERS. 



numbers being now considerably increased, 

 they might keep so close to one another,, that 

 if he were there he must come out. Before 

 they had traversed half the field, we observed 

 something creeping by the side of the Rhar, 

 not apparently larger than a jackal,, which 

 we conceived it to be; It at last quitted the 

 Rhar field, and we instantly discovered that it 

 was a leopard : he would have passed about 

 fifteen or twenty yards from us, if we had not 

 interrupted him, by firing at him, when at the 

 distance of fifty yards. 



As soon as the report was heard, we saw him 

 drop, rise again immediately, and run straight 

 towards us; on looking round, I found that 

 all the soldiers had fired, for they were all 

 four reloading their guns ; this being the case, 

 I determined to keep my second fire until he 

 came quite close to us ; however, he changed 

 his course, and made off towards a hill that 

 w r as near, formed of large rocks and loose 

 stones; when he had fairly turned his back, I 

 discharged my other barrel at him,, mounted 



