inspiration of fear.

The ox upon which Macora sat seemed trying its speed with his horse.
The three dogs had answered his call and were coming towards him. They
were pursued by something,--by a creature that passed over the ground in
a succession of long low leaps, and yet so much time was lost in
gathering strength for each spring, that it did not much lessen the
distance between itself and the animals it was pursuing.

The buffaloes had started up and gone off at full canter towards the
timber,--passing within less than fifty paces of the spot where Willem
stood. He allowed them to escape unmolested. A creature more deserving
of his attention was rapidly approaching from the other side.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

THE FAITHFUL "SMOKE."

As yet, the dogs did not seem aware that an enemy was after them. They
had heard their master's whistle, and having been released from the
leash, were only intent in obeying the command.

On rousing the buffaloes from their repose, they probably thought that
they had been called for the express purpose of pursuing and destroying
them; and, heedless of all else, they followed upon the heels of the
great quadrupeds, passing close to the hunter, who in vain endeavoured
to call them off. He was soon otherwise occupied.

The creature in pursuit of the dogs, and which had caused the flight of
Macora and his attendants, was a large leopard. It was a female, and
rapidly there passed through the hunter's mind a conjecture of the
circumstances under which the animal was acting.

It had left its young in its forest lair, and had been on a visit to the
river for water or food. It had not pursued Macora or his attendants,
as its solicitude was for its young, and the dogs were now running in
the direction where these were concealed.

At sight of Groot Willem, the leopard desisted from its pursuit of the
dogs; and, crouching low upon the ground, crawled towards him,--not
slowly, but with a speed only checked by instinctive caution. As it
advanced, its whole body was covered by the head, its eyes being the
highest part of it presented to the view of the hunter.

The _felidea_ was now within ten yards of him and rapidly drawing
nearer. Something must be done. The roer was raised to his shoulder,
and with a steady hand and eye,--nerved by the perilous position he was
in,--he drew a fine sight at the creature's snout and fired.

The shot took effect, for the leopard rolled over, rose u