INTRUDING LEOPARDS. 207 



sure, sooner or later, to meet with a mishap, if he goes 

 much after dangerous animals. A true sportsman need not 

 trouble himself about what people think. Some may take 

 a delight in being able to say that they have walked in a 

 bush, and fired at elephants and buffaloes, without any of 

 the precautions that I have named as necessary ; I should 

 recommend them not to do so often. We shot this buffalo, 

 but I will give details in another part. I was afraid that 

 some of the carnivora might feast on him, so we deter- 

 mined to return to my horse, and make the best of our 

 way back to the kraal. A large party instantly set off 

 with assagies to bring in the meat, while I had some din- 

 ner and a glass of brandy-and-water. I then strolled out 

 to a neighbouring kloof, and poked about the bushes in 

 search of game. Hearing some guinea-fowl calling, I drew 

 my bullets, and put buck-shot into both barrels. This is a 

 plan I rarely practised, as it is better always to retain 

 a bullet in one barrel; in the present case the neglect 

 of this might have led to a serious affair. Having crept 

 down to where I thought I heard the guinea-fowl, I saw a 

 couple of creatures moving in the long grass. I could not 

 see what they were ; but thinking that they must be bucks, 

 I crept down towards them until well within shot ; I then 

 stood up, and ran forward. When within a few yards of 

 the objects, I was brought to a stand-still, by seeing 

 a leopard jump up : he gave a snarl at me, and then 

 bounded off, followed by a second one. They went away 

 just like two cats, leaping lightly over everything in their 

 course. My finger was on the trigger to fire, but remem- 

 bering the Dutchman Hendrick's advice, I thought it 



