He looked up--it was cast by a vulture's wings, as they hurried to the place of death.
Grasping his loaded rifle Leonard sprang to his feet.

Nearer and nearer came the bird, wheeling above him in lessening circles: it forgot the presence of the living in its desire for the dead.

Leonard lifted the rifle, aimed and fired.

The report rang out clearly on the silent air, and was echoed from krantz and kloof and mountain side, and from above answered the thud of the bullet.

For a moment the smitten bird swayed upon its wide pinions, then they seemed to crumple beneath its weight, and it fell heavily and lay flapping and striking at the stones with its strong beak.
"I also can kill," said Leonard to himself as he watched it die.