HIS DEADLY WEAPON

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6546, 20 November 1924, Page 5

HIS DEADLY WEAPON

One day Llewelyn Powys, author of “Black Laughter,” was walking in the African jungle near his ranch, accompanied by a Dutchman and the Dutchman’s dog. Suddenly they heard pitiful whines and saw a leopard crouching down with the dog under its paws. “Its curved back was turned to us,” Continues Powys. “Evidently it was unaware of our approach. I modified my pace. Not so the Dutchman. With-: out a second’s hesitation he rushed up and gave the leopard one of the hardest kicks I have ever seen delivered. Hi§ iron-shod boot fairly caught the animgl under its fifth rib. From where I stood ’ I could hear the dull thud of iron against bone.. With a howl of pain the astonished leopard let go its prey and limped off into the bush, doubtless wondering to itself what manner of devil could have given it so diabolical a thump. The dog was badly mauled, but still alive. The Dutchman carried it back in his arms. ‘Ach! Ach!’ he spluttered, ‘dat great cat, he dought to eat my poor dog, eh ? I vish, Misser Powys, dat he had stayed for me to give him von more good booting.’ ”