There were stealthy footsteps, the noise of sniffing, followed by the sound of an animal rolling on the ground, and they fired together.

With a snarl the leopard bounded right to the very mouth of the opening, knocking over the smouldering tinder and sending out a shower of sparks.

Venning fired.

Compton lunged forward with his big knife, and the leopard leapt aside.
"Hit him that time, I bet," muttered Venning, who was shaking with excitement.
Then followed a weary time of waiting in complete silence, broken only by the soft melancholy murmur of the forest.

They refilled the magazines of their carbines, built up the tinder fire, and stretched their ears to catch the first warning note of danger.