lo8 HEIMAN'S DATCH. 



(the snow leopard of India) does occur not uncom- 

 monly in the Caucasus, even on its western coast, 

 I was assured by Professor Radde, the courteous 

 director of the Tiflis Museum, who showed me 

 great kindness in going over his collections with 

 me during my stay in that town. And even had I 

 had no further confirmation than the tracks I have 

 above alluded to, I should feel convinced that the 

 beast I wounded was an unmistakable leopard. 



Returning from our tracking operations, we 

 were startled by seeing a strange figure moving 

 about inside our camp, evidently looking for any- 

 thing light enough to carry away. Remembering 

 our horses, we never for a moment doubted but 

 that this was one of the gentry who had stolen 

 them, returned possibly for the saddles. Had he 

 been, he would have had fleet feet to have escaped, 

 for we went for him like terriers for a rat. But our 

 anger was turned to rejoicing when we recognised 

 the face of a friendly Cossack from the next station, 

 who had brought our horses back with him, and 

 was looking for nothing more valuable than a 

 still smouldering ember to light his cigarette by. 

 Our horses had joined his ' taboon ' (herd), which 

 had been pasturing in a valley somewhere between 

 our camp and his station, and he had there found 

 them the night before. 



On hearing this good news Ivan and his chum 

 announced to my disgust their intention of going 



