MY LAST LEOPARD. 
looking at its fallen companion. Before I could raise the 
rifle the animal disappeared over the precipice ; I at once ran 
to the edge and waited some time with the hope of seeing it 
again, but after about twenty minutes — Francis says half an 
hour— I went back towards the dead leopard and got to about 
thirty paces from him when, to our utter astonishment, up he 
sprang and bolted towards the edge of the rock; I fired a 
quick shot with a shell and the leopard disappeared in a 
narrow water course close to the precipitious side of the rock. 
I felt pretty certain I had hit him, and thought 1 had heard 
a stifled growl ; cautiously approaching the spot I had the 
satisfaction of seeing him lying dead; had he gone another 
yard he w^oukl have been over the edge, 1 found my first 
shot had hit him on the right nostril knocking his teeth about 
and passing out behind the jaw ; why he should have 
remained stunned for so long a time I can't make out. The 
shell had entered high up behind the left shoulder, passing 
out and smashing the right, dropping him dead on his tracks ; 
he was an old male six feet two inches in length with a 
beautiful skin. 
.l/K LAUT LEOPAJUD. 
