We were told that there were plenty of roe deer, foxes, jackals, &c., so we loaded our guns with S.S.G.cartridges (which means, I may tell it to the uninitiated, buck-shot).

We were stationed on the outskirts of a splendid oak wood that looked like holding any mortal thing in the way of game.

Soon as the beaters set to work cocks began to fly about in all directions, but we had an instinct that something more important would turn up, so took no notice of feathered game.

I was watching close, trying to look through almost impenetrable brushwood, when I heard a rustling sort of noise near me, and suddenly I caught sight of something which almost made my hair stand on end--a great tiger leopard, creeping, stealthily as a cat, out of the wood, within twenty yards of where I was standing.
Fortunately he did not look my way.

What was I to do?
My gun, as I said, was loaded with buck-shot; a miss or a wound would have been sure to bring the brute on top of me.