A WEARY NIGHT. 155 



go home when he found I did not return to him. A 

 Hottentot then might see him, think something was the 

 matter, and perhaps spoor me to where I lay. I was 

 hoping anxiously for daylight, as I would then try and 

 load my gun, and fire some shots, which would probably 

 be heard at a distance. I so frequently went away for a 

 day or so and stopped at my brother's, that I did not 

 think the people at the house would be at all alarmed at 

 my absence during the night. I thought over all that 

 had happened to me, and could not blame myself for 

 having been foolhardy, although I was unlucky, and 

 ought to have killed the leopard dead at once. I never 

 knew how it was that he escaped the second shot, for I 

 aimed straight between the eyes, and rarely missed a 

 steady shot. I felt certain that the leopard was dead, 

 there was that satisfaction at least, and I hoped I should 

 get credit for my courage. I was very anxious for the 

 arrival of day, as I thought help might come then. 

 I had several times tried to move, but the attempt had 

 caused such pain in the wounds, that I could not stir an 

 inch. I thought I felt close against my shoulder a move- 

 ment of something or other crawling : I did not notice it 

 at first ; but once or twice I felt a slight pressure against 

 my arm, which still had a little sensation left. I could 

 not get up, so lay quiet, and did not worry myself 

 about it. 



" A long time seemed to pass before the daylight came ; 

 I lay almost fainting and stupid from the pain and cold, 

 but at last determined to try and load my gun. I turned 

 my head with difficulty, and looked down for my weapon 



