OEDEE OF CAENIYOEA. 
369 
to the spot by the cries of the lad. The victim died after two 
days’ suffering. 
If destroying the Lion has immortalised Jules Gerard, the 
pursuit of the Panther has rendered another of his countrymen 
illustrious. We allude to Bombonnel, librarian of Dijon. This 
bold man devoted himself to Leopard-hunting in Africa, an 
occupation which can only be followed by the methods pursued 
by Gerard and Chassaing against Lions, and which is surrounded 
by even greater dangers. 
Bombonnel published in 1862 a most interesting book, contain- 
ing a description of his stirring adventures. We here reproduce a 
chapter in which he relates a terrific struggle he sustained with 
a Panther he had wounded : a fearful and almost fatal combat 
that occurred on the brink of a ravine. The countenance of the 
courageous hunter yet bears traces of this conflict. Bombonnel 
thus describes the event : — 
“ It was eight o’clock at night ; we were dining, and during our 
meal discussing our projects for the morrow, when there arrived, 
quite out of breath, an Arab belonging to the tribe of Ben-Assenat. 
He told me that at sunset a Panther came and carried off a 
Goat in the presence of the goat-herd, and that he had seen 
it enter a ravine, where it was certain to be found. I was too 
anxious to meet this infernal beast to hesitate an instant ; dinner 
was left unfinished, and a rush was made at once to my weapons, 
notwithstanding the representations of several who wished to 
detain me, by observing that the night was very dark and the 
weather bad; but knowing that the moon rose at ten o’clock, 
and that I ought to be with the tribe before that hour, I started. 
“The man who conducted me, in his endeavours to make a 
short cut, went along narrow tracks, and often through the brush- 
wood. My hunting-knife bumped against my legs and caught 
in the branches ; so, to get it out of the way, I pushed it round 
my waist-belt behind, instead of retaining it by my side. I 
mention this fact here, though it appears of but little importance, 
because, as will be seen hereafter, it was the means to which I 
owe my life. 
“ On reaching the tribe, I found the Arabs waiting for me. For a 
decoy they had got ready a Goat and a stake to attach it to. 
They led me about a quarter of a mile from the douar, to the 
B B 
