nd
missed with the other."

"And it is possible," added Jack, "that one of us hit with both, and the
other missed with both. All that I can positively affirm is that I
fired both barrels at his shoulder--one after the other."

"And all that I am certain of," said I, "is that I fired both barrels at
his forehead, and that I discharged them both at once."

"Did you?" said Peterkin, looking up quickly; "then, Ralph, I'm afraid
you must give all the honour to Jack, for you have missed altogether."

"How do you know that?" I asked, in a somewhat piqued tone.

"Simply enough. If you fired both shots together at so short a
distance, they would have been found close together wherever they had
struck, whereas the two shots in the neck and shoulder are more than two
feet apart."

I was compelled to admit that there was much truth in the observation,
but still felt unwilling to give up all claim to having assisted in
slaying our first buffalo. I pondered the subject a good deal during
the remainder of the time we spent in cutting up and packing part of the
buffalo meat, and in preparing to continue our journey, but could come
at no satisfactory conclusion in my own mind, and, to say truth, I felt
not a little crestfallen at my conduct in the whole affair.

While wandering in this mood near the spot where the buffalo had been
first wounded, I received a sudden and severe start on observing the
leopard crouching within a couple of yards of me. I saw it through the
bushes quite distinctly, but could not make quite sure of its attitude.
With a mingled cry of alarm and astonishment I sprang back to the place
where I had left my rifle.

Jack and Peterkin instantly ran up with their pieces cocked.

"Where is it?" they cried in a breath.

"There, crouching just behind that bush."

Jack darted forward.

"Crouching!" he cried, with a loud laugh, seizing the animal by the tail
and dragging it forth; "why, it's dead--stone dead."

"Dead as mutton," said Peterkin. "Hallo! what's this?" he added in
surprise. "Two holes close together in its forehead, I do declare!
Hooray! Ralph, my boy, give us your paw! You've missed the bull and
hit the leopard! If you haven't been and put two bullets right between
its two eyes, I'm a Dutchman!"

And so, in truth, it turned out. I had aimed at the bull and hit the
leopard. So I left that spot not a little pleased with my bad aim and
my good fortune.

CHAPTER FOUR.

WHEREIN