me,
and could not blame myself for having been foolhardy, although I was
unlucky, and ought to have killed the leopard dead at once. I never
knew how it was that he escaped the second shot, for I aimed straight
between the eyes, and rarely missed a steady shot. I felt certain that
the leopard was dead,--there was that satisfaction at least, and I hoped
I should get credit for my courage. I was very anxious for the arrival
of day, as I thought help might come then. I had several times tried to
move, but the attempt had caused such pain in the wounds, that I could
not stir an inch. I thought I felt close against my shoulder a movement
of something or other crawling: I did not notice it at first, but once
or twice I felt a slight pressure against my arm, which still had a
little sensation left. I could not get up, so lay quiet, and did not
worry myself about it.

"A long time seemed to pass before the daylight came; I lay almost
fainting and stupid from the pain and cold, but at last determined to
try and load my gun. I turned my head with difficulty, and looked down
for my weapon and powder-horn. As I looked at my broken arm," which was
lying uselessly beside me, I saw a great brown-looking thing lying over
it. It was an instant or so before I knew what was there; but then I
saw that it was the fat bloated body of a hideous puff-adder, lying
close against me, evidently for the sake of the warmth. Why I did not
shriek out I don't know; but I never moved. This adder, then, was the
thing that I had felt pressing against me for some time, and this
poisonous reptile had been my companion for hours.

"I kept my eyes on him, and could see a slight muscular motion in his
body every now and then like breathing; the idea came across me that he
was drinking the blood of my wounds, and had perhaps already bitten me.
I felt that I must watch him, and could not look in any other direction;
I dared not attempt another trial to get up, as I might fall back on
this brute, and get at once a dose of his poison, and be dead in an
hour. At last the joyful sound of voices came upon my ear, and there
was shouting; I dared not answer, lest the movement in doing so might
enrage the adder. I had the fear that the people might not come down to
look for me if they heard nothing, and might go on, leaving me to die
where I was. I listened, and could hear people talking, but could not
make out the words or to whom the voices belonged, b