TIGER SLAYER BY ORDER 



We now retreated to some distance, and on one of my 

 men firing into the thicket, under my direction, the 

 panther again, for the third time, charged out straight 

 for the guns, when I met him with a charge of S.S.G. in 

 the face, killing him at once. 



This panther measured seven feet two inches, and was 

 the most determinedly aggressive of any I have ever come 

 across, and furnished a good example of the ferocity these 

 animals are capable of displaying when roused. 



And yet — such is the glorious uncertainty of sport — even 

 a leopard, savage as they almost invariably are, can some- 

 times be bagged with as little difficulty as a rabbit or a 

 hare, as the following incident will show. 



I was once watching over the remains of a young 

 buffalo, which had been killed by a large panther, when I 

 suddenly heard the beast behind me making that curious 

 rasping, grating sound peculiar to these animals. 



So dense was the cover, however, that I could not see 

 him, and being on foot, with no better shelter than a light 

 screen of bushes between us, I naturally felt somewhat 

 uncomfortable. Presently the noise ceased and I was 

 wondering whether, having seen or scented me, he had 

 sneaked off, when he leisurely walked out into the open 

 from a bush opposite to me and only about five yards 

 off. 



I felt at once that I had him, so quietly raising the 

 rifle to my shoulder, I fired, planting my bullet, as I found 

 later, exactly in the centre of his chest, and of course 

 killing him on the spot. He was a fine, handsome beast, 

 and with a beautifully marked skin, which I had much 

 pleasure in adding to my collection. For there is probably 

 no finer sporting trophy to be obtained than a perfect 

 leopard skin, that is one taken from an animal shot while 

 in its prime, and preferably towards the end of the cold 

 season, when the fur is at its longest and best. Though 

 less imposing in respect of size than that of a tiger, it 

 presents a handsomer appearance, possibly by reason of a 

 more equal blending of the colours. 



Nevertheless, when seen together in the jungle — a sight 

 which I had once the good fortune to witness — the leopard 

 in spite of the greater beauty of its colourings, sinks into 

 76 



