DOGS AND PANTHER 
335 
was more than welcome to; he walked up so close that I shouted 
to him to look out, as the animal was about to spring, for the 
tightening grip the animal spasmodically gave to the branch, 
warned me that such really was the case. However, instead of 
jumping at Stremboom, he bounded lightly on to the ground, and 
made off before Stremboom had fired. The dogs were after him 
in a moment, and pressed him to such advantage that the beast 
glided up another large tree standing near, with the rapidity of 
an ordinary cat. He was now at bay and vicious, and I begged 
Stremboom, as we ran up, not to venture too near a second 
time. Taking a half circle round the tree, he got a clear shot; 
and fired, dropping the beast on to the ground with a shot through 
the lungs. It was the neatest piece of work I have ever seen, to 
observe those dogs rush on the fallen animal, and, before it had 
a chance of righting itself, send their teeth crunching through 
its breast-bone into the chest, for which temerity they suffered 
some severe scratches from the dying animal. We hauled them 
off and despatched the animal with a rapid dig in the centre of 
the chest from my dagger, thrust in where the incision is made 
for skinning, so as not to injure the skin more than necessary. 
Jan Witboy, Stremboom’s faithful follower for many years, 
rated his master soundly when he heard of his reckless approach 
to within springing distance of the panther, at which I chaffed 
‘ Baas Jan,’ for standing under the thumb of his servant. 
Witboy gruffly informed me in an injured tone that he had the 
right to scold his baas, and if I did not believe it, why, then I 
might ask him. Scenting some history of past events that 
bound these two together with no common tie, that night at the 
camp fire I got Stremboom to relate how Witboy had many a 
time done him good service through the long years they had 
spent together in the interior, and in particular how Witboy 
probably saved his life amongst the half-breeds inhabiting 
Namakwaland. 
Stremboom was returning to the lake with loads of goods 
from Walfish Bay, where he had gone as an experiment to 
replenish his stock for trading purposes, and Witboy accom- 
