ent, and then decided to endeavour to save the man who was still
alive. Creeping up stealthily, he gave a sudden spring upon the
leopard, and buried his knife to the hilt in its body, just behind
the shoulder.

With a terrible roar, it rolled over for a moment, and then
struggled to its feet. The time had been sufficient for Stanley to
pick up and cock one of the guns and, as the leopard turned to
spring at him, he aimed between its eyes and fired. Again the beast
rolled over, and Stanley caught up the other gun, thrust the muzzle
within a foot of its head, and fired. The leopard gave a convulsive
quiver, and lay dead.

Chapter 5: With Brigands.

Stanley uttered an involuntary hurrah as the leopard expired; and
at the sound the Burman, who had been lying motionless, leapt to
his feet. He looked at the leopard, and then at his rescuer, and
exclaimed in a tone of astonishment:

"You have slain the beast alone, and with no weapon but your
knife!"

"No," Stanley replied; "I began the fight with my knife, only; but
caught up one of those guns when I wounded him, and fired as he
charged me. Then I finished him with the other."

"Comrade," the Burman said, "you have done a great deed, with
courage. I, who am esteemed no coward, would never even have
thought of attacking that great leopard with but a knife, and that
to save the life of a stranger."

"I saw the guns lying on the ground. Had it not been for that, I
should not have dared to attack the leopard, for it would have been
certain death."

"Certain death, indeed. But tell me, first, how you did it. It
seems to me well nigh a miracle."

"I was passing along, not far distant, when I heard your cry,"
Stanley said. "Thinking that it was some person in distress, I ran
hither, and saw you both lying, with the leopard's forepaws upon
you. The beast's back was turned to me and, as it was growling, it
had not heard my approach. Seeing the guns lying there--and having
no doubt that they were loaded--I stole up, sprang suddenly on the
leopard, and drove my knife into it behind the shoulder. The blow
rolled it over, and gave me time to pick up the gun. The rest was
easy."

The man, without a word, examined the body of the leopard.

"It is as you say," he said. "It was well struck, and would
probably have been fatal; but the animal would have torn you in
pieces before he died, but for the guns.

"Well, comrade, you have saved my life; and I am your servant, so