AN UGLY VISITOR 8l 



This particular tornado lasted for nearly three hours and 

 was the most violent of all I saw during the entire year. 



Now the storm subsides, but the darkness is impenetra- 

 ble. I have no light of any kind, for that would alarm the 

 inhabitants of the jungle and attract a vast army of insects 

 from all quarters. Moses is fast asleep, while I sit listening 

 to the many strange and weird sounds heard in the jungle 

 at night. The bush crackles near by. A huge leopard 

 is creeping through it. He is coming this way. Slowly, 

 cautiously, he approaches. I cannot see him in the deep 

 shadows of the foliage, but I can locate him by sound, and 

 identify him by his peculiar tread. Perhaps when he gets 

 near enough he will attack the cage. He is creeping up 

 closer. He evidently smells prey and is bent on seizing it. 

 My rifle stands by my elbow. I silently raise it and lay 

 it across my lap. The brute is now crouching within a few 

 yards of me, but I cannot see to shoot him. I hear him move 

 again, as if adjusting himself to spring upon the cage. He 

 surely cannot see it, but by means of scent he has located 

 me. I hear a low rustling of the leaves as he swishes his 

 tail preparatory to a leap. If I could only touch a button 

 and turn on a bright electric light ! He remains crouching 

 near, while I sit with the muzzle of the rifle turned towards 

 him. My hand is on the lock. It is a trying moment. 

 If he should spring with such force as to break the frail 

 network that is between us, there could be but one fate 

 for me. 



In the brief space of a few seconds a thousand things run 

 through one's mind. They are not necessarily prompted 

 by fear, but rather by suspense. Is it best to fire into the 



