CHASE A LEOPARD 115 



plated the water-buck for some time, I cut otT his hand- 

 some head, which I borj to camp in triumph. The 

 next day I succeeded in bringing down another fine 

 water-buck after a hot chase. 



On the 19th Kleinboy returned without the lost oxen : 

 the natives said that they had been'found by Bakala- 

 hari, and were driven to Sichely. Next day the half of 

 them were sent by the chief, with a message that no 

 more had been found, but that spoor had been seen. 



On the morning of the 22d I rode into camp, after 

 unsuccessfully following the spoor of a herd of ele- 

 phants for two days in a westerly course. Having par- 

 taken of some refreshment, I saddled up two steeds and 

 rode down the bank of Ngotwani with the Bushman, 

 to seek fof any game I might find. After riding about 

 a mile along the river's green bank, I came suddenly 

 upon an old male leopard, lying under the shade of a 

 thorn grove, and panting from the great heat. Al- 

 though I was within sixty yards of him, he had not 

 heard the horses' tread. I thought he was a , lioness, 

 and, dismounting, took a rest in my saddle onthe Old 

 Gray, and sent a bullet into him. He sprang to his 

 feet, and ran half way down the river's bank, and stood 

 to look about him, when I sent a second bullet into hi^s 

 person, and he disappeared over the bank. The ground 

 being very dangerous, I did not disturb him by follow- 

 ing then, but I at once sent Ruyter back to camp for 

 the dogs. Presently he returned with Wolf and Boxer, 

 very much done up with the sun. I rode forward, and 

 on looking over the -bank the leopard started up and 

 sneaked off"- alongside of the tall reeds, and was instant- 

 ly out of sight. I fired a random shot from the saddle 

 to encourage the dogs, and shouted to them ; they, 

 however, stood looking stupidly round, and would not 



