V 
SWASURI AND THE LEOPARD 
6 3 
the bullet on this occasion striking him full in 
the mouth and tearing its way right through him. 
At the same time, Swasuri (the others had fled), 
picking up a spear that was standing against one 
of the supports of the banda, ran up behind me 
and pluckily flung it at the brute, unfortunately 
missing him. As I leaped aside, however, the 
impetus of the animal’s spring carried him past 
me, and he came down with all his weight upon 
the poor girl, bringing her with a crash to the 
ground. Though it was an expiring effort, he 
managed to drive his claws into her neck 
and inflict an awful gash right down her 
breast. Raising my rifle, I brought it down with 
all my might upon the animal’s skull, braining 
him as he lay on top of the girl, the force 
of the blow smashing the stock of the rifle to 
pieces. Then, seizing the leopard by the leg, 
I dragged him off Swasuri’s prostrate and inert 
form. 
The camp was now all excitement ; my men and 
their women, having heard the fusillade, came 
hurrying to the scene of operations. Without 
delay I turned my attention to Swasuri, who, I 
feared, had been killed, but a few moments after¬ 
wards, to my great relief, she regained conscious¬ 
ness and opened her eyes. I promptly dressed 
and disinfected her wounds, and on the com- 
