NOVEL METHOD. 279 



may say, better than the moon herself; for you 

 are secure from observation, being in total 

 darkness yourself, whilst the carcass, and, 

 consequently, the leopard, when he comes to 

 eat it, are as much exposed as in broad day ; 

 nor do they seem at all timorous or afraid of 

 the light, however glaring. 



Being of the generally-credited opinion, 

 that wild animals of the feline tribe, were 

 afraid of fire, and would not venture close 

 to it, I had laughed at the tale of an old 

 shikaree, who often told me to use a light, 

 when there was no moon. One day, how- 

 ever, a leopard had carried off a very 

 favourite dog, and I determined to try the 

 plan, anxious both to revenge the death of 

 my dog, and to punish the spotted thief. 



The dog was of a large Thibetian breed, 

 and in fair fight, ought to have been a match 

 for the leopard ; but when sprung upon, was 

 engaged eating a monkey I had shot the 

 previous day, and was probably killed 

 almost -without a struggle. This was just 

 before daylight ; and as soon as morning 



