The Leopard Woman

s roared full-voiced satisfaction when they left the rhinoceros, and the yells of the hyenas rose to a pandemonium when at last they were permitted to join the feast. Likewise the n

ithin the precincts of the camp, he would instantly have been broad awake, the rifle that stood loaded nearby clasped in his hand. Thus he lay q

Moto stopped outside. T

" called

," replie

ened and greeted his master

ed the tiny lantern, for it was stil

marching," s

oto st

chui." Already Kingozi's nick

ent later was heard outside pour

ome chances hiking around thus in the dark. Perhaps some aged or weak lion had not been permitted a share of that rhinoceros. And again she was taking chances pushing ou

a half-dozen of the porters prepared to strike and furl

is water out yonder; but it is water at least forty miles away. She's got to push and push hard to make it, and that's why

Cazi Moto snatched the towel deftly but respectfully and packed it away. Simba, w

d two of his Engli

his camp chair and the eating service, the camp was by now all

ingozi called up Simba a

water is four

_bwa

you, or four hou

n go in four h

re game

a guarded water, a

i cons

x men. Before the mar

ky was thus brilliantly illuminated, the earth, strangely enough, was still gray with twilight. Objects fifty yards distant w

enly the dayl

ned clearly, becoming trees, rocks, distant hills. And almo

of the night's orgy over the rhino carcass was desirable. The fact that the big water-hole below camp had not only remained unvisited, but apparently even de

rs stole along fifty yards in the rear. They were quite as anxious

oo small for the purpose. Then a shift of wind brought to them a medley of sound--a great persistent barking

yes were

me there, _bwa

plied Kingo

w rods of the top of the rise. There they s

ther water-hole. At its edge and in its shallows stood a few beasts. But the

s characters, kicking up their heels, biting at one another, or lowering their horns in short mimic charges-- gay, animated flankers to the main army. There were several sorts, each in its little companies or bands, many times repeated, of from two or three to several score; although occasionally strange assortments and

ll. If they should crawl three yards farther they would indubitably be espied by some one. It was impossibl

oblem soberly before coming back to his first and most obvious conclusion. Then he

ing 'em through the heart at even greater distances--estimated. It is actually a fact, proven many times, that those estimates should be divided by two in order to get near th

tracks. The next best is a bullet low in the shoulder. Third is a really accurate heart shot. This latter is always fatal, of course; but ordinarily the quarry will run at racing speed for some little distance before falling dead. In certain types

circle to from eight to twelve inches, with the chance outside that of merely breaking a foreleg, grazing brisket, or missing entirely under the neck. The heart shot--or rather an attempt at it--is safer for a longer range, not because the mark is larger, but because even if one misses the heart, he is apt to land either the

inexperience in the presence of game as well as his inaccuracy with the rifle, and it keeps in mind that he must hit that mark not merely nine times out of ten, but _every time_. If he cannot get within the hundred yards by stalking, then he should refuse the chance. As expertness rises in the scale the distances increase. Provided there were

two hundred and fifty yards, if you do not know what two hundred and fifty yards is. And here enter a thousand deceits: direction of light, slope of ground, nature of cover, temperature, mirage, time of day, and the like. An apparent hundred yards over water or a

game! In Central Africa, where in a well-stocked district there are from twenty to thirty species, the practice becomes more onerous. This same practice--of pacing the distances--however, has also trained a man's eye for country. He is able to supplement the front-sight method by the usual estimate by eye. Most men do not take this trouble. They practise at target range until they can hit the bull's-eye with fair regularity, miss with nearly equal regularity in the hunting field, and thenceforth talk vaguely

s reactions, that his decision was made almost instantly. A glance at the intervening ground, another through his sights. The top of the bead covered half

last of them had left the water-hole. Kingozi nodded to Simba. Simba, understanding fr

turned their heads, staring intently, making up their minds, their nostrils wide. Kingozi, who ha

llet had told. It was a strange sound, unmistakable to one who has once heard it, much

jaculate

arp eyes had noted the smallest particular of the beast's behaviour

a indicated with his forefinger

. A tyro would have attempted to draw near for a finishing shot, and so would probably have been let in for a long chase. A freshly wounded animal, if kept moving, is capable of astonishing endurance. But the

nyama!_"

faces illuminated with one of the strong

ma! n

days the provisi