attack me
and Jan.

I advanced, and taking good aim, pulled the trigger, but what was my
dismay to find my gun miss fire, while at the same moment the leopard
made a spring from a high bough on which it was perched. I expected the
next instant to feel its fangs in my neck, and be struck to the ground
by its sharp claws; but happily its feet caught in some of the creeping
vines which were entwined round the tree, and it very nearly came
toppling to the ground on its head. Recovering itself, however, it
pitched on a lower bough.

I, in the meantime, endeavouring to be calm, cleaned out the nipple of
my gun, and put a fresh cap on; then retiring a few paces while the
creature gazed down upon me, about to make another spring, I fired at
its head, into which the bullet buried itself, and down it crashed to
the ground.

I leaped back, and reloading, stood ready to give it another shot, but
this was unnecessary; after a few convulsive struggles, it lay helpless
on the ground. On drawing near I found that it was dead. The skin
being a handsome one, I determined to secure it. With Jan's assistance,
I soon had it off and placed on the back of the ox. I now ascended the
tree, and found that though the ends of the tusks were gnawed, they were
not otherwise injured.

With the aid of Jan I lowered them down, and secured them to the back of
the ox. The poor brute was now overloaded, but as we had not far to go,
I hoped that it would be able to carry its burden that short distance.

Had I been strong I would have endeavoured to carry some of the load,
but I found my gun and ammunition, with the birds I occasionally shot,
quite enough for me. At length, greatly to my satisfaction, we drew
near the spot where I had left my uncle on some high ground overlooking
the river. Every moment I thought that our poor ox would give in.

We might, I suspect, have been indicted by the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, had we been seen urging on the ox, but
we had no choice, for had we abandoned our goods, the natives would have
taken possession of them. At last, as evening was approaching, we
caught sight of my uncle's camp-fire. We shouted, as he did in return,
when he came hurrying down the hill to meet us.

"What poor brute have you got there?" he exclaimed, after welcoming us.

When I told him it was our old ox, he would scarcely believe it to be
the same animal. Hardly was the burden off its back, and Jan was