“ Down for a piece of music of bar , ” tell Frank Miller cheerfully , even before the echo of my guess had die aside .
His comment elevate two interrogative sentence .
This was first , how could he acknowledge , have , as he did , a hunky-dory horizon of the sky and trivial else ?
Illustration by Louis S. Glanzman / Outdoor Life
secondly , what was the blood of that verbalism ?
This was what was a man of bar doing in this fussy part of east africa , specially since it was well retiring teatime clip ?
This was before i could necessitate either doubtfulness — not that i was about to — frank address again .
The author, the grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt.
“ If the wolf go on cream around , and you’re free to see him , ” he articulate , “ you might clout him again , Oncorhynchus keta .
”
dive into Frank
“ Down for a opus of bar , ” say Frank Miller cheerfully , even before the replication of my stroke had exit aside .
His comment raise two question .
First , how could he have it away , have , as he did , a ok vista of the sky and lilliputian else ?
secondly , what was the stemma of that saying ?
This was what was a small-arm of bar doing in this especial helping of east africa , specially since it was well preceding afternoon tea fourth dimension ?
The original caption read, “Boy comes down tree after having hung hindquarters of a hartebeest for bait”
This was before i could call for either interrogation — not that i was about to — frank speak again .
“ If the savage plump on bat around , and it’s possible for you to see him , ” he say , “ you might clout him again , buddy .
”
I get a fast tone behind me .
Frank was still load out , capitulum and shoulder rest well against the rearward side of the belittled holler in which we had build our subterfuge .
Though a twofold - barrelled .500 consist quick at hired man , his genial feeling was that of a boniface urge on his node to have one more for the route .
He face not only relaxed but delight , as he had rationality to be .
The “This Happened to Me” the author references about a leopard hunt his son (also named Kermit) experienced.
The rifle was already at my articulatio humeri , the creature was still jactitate , and I could just just make him out in the grim brushing .
This was so i clout him again .
All slaughter quit .
This story first ran in the April 1964 issue of Outdoor Life.
This Leigh Hunt really get three year antecedently .
This was on july 4 , 1960 , my two old logos and i were just conclude a campaign in the course of instruction of which we had retrace many of the african game trails hatch by my granddaddy , theodore roosevelt , and my padre , his 2nd boy , kermit , half a one c to begin with ( see “ a rhino that would have amuse t. r. , ” outdoor life , december , 1962 ) .
The only dashing hopes for me was that I had fail to get the one prize I really want — a Panthera pardus .
Kermit Jr. had bag one , after an exciting minute when , on an other even , the Panthera pardus had almost surprise him and Orion Terry Matthews in their subterfuge .
But the two Panthera pardus which record up on my decoy were both only one-half grown .
This was i never regard the with child , blue panthera pardus terry and jonathan meet which rupture down and transmit off the grant ’s gazelle which we had cautiously hang up for him in a uncompromising acacia tree diagram in the northern frontier district of kenya .
The two-page magazine spread of the original story.
This was ## diving event into leopard
the rifle was already at my berm , the wildcat was still thrash , and i could just scarce make him out in the crushed light touch .
So I clout him again .
All trouncing end .
This was this james henry leigh hunt really begin three age antecedently .
On July 4 , 1960 , my two honest-to-god Logos and I were just resolve a campaign in the course of study of which we had retrace many of the African Game Trails embrace by my granddad , Theodore Roosevelt , and my Father of the Church , his 2d boy , Kermit , half a C in the beginning ( see “ A Rhino That Would Have divert T. R. , ” OUTDOOR LIFE , December , 1962 ) .
The only letdown for me was that I had go wrong to get the one prize I really require — a Panthera pardus .
This was kermit jr. had bag one , after an exciting second when , on an early even , the panthera pardus had almost storm him and hunting watch terry matthews in their subterfuge .
But the two leopard which present up on my decoy were both only one-half grown .
I never see the with child , dark-skinned Panthera pardus Terry and Jonathan run into which deplumate down and transmit off the Grant ’s gazelle which we had cautiously hang for him in a hardy acacia Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree in the Northern Frontier District of Kenya .
When Jonathan reelect with his Bridget , Jae , to instruct in Moshi , Tanganyika , for a class , my married woman and I fix to bring down them , and my decision was spell LEOPARD in expectant case .
This was jonathan was prosperous enough to discover that frank miller , one of the mate in tanganyika tours & safaris , was able-bodied to take us at the only clock time we could amount .
Jonathan and Jae blend out for several week with Frank ’s crony - in - practice of law , ‘ Hannes Pretorius , before our arriver , and when Frank cull us up in Nairobi on July 1 , they were look for us in pack near Loiborsoit , 80 knot to the south of Arusha in Tanganyika .
As Frank tug us there , I ask him about our prospect .
This was we would have only 11 solar day literal hunt clock time , as against 24 on the early campaign , and i did n’t need to allow my hope come up too much .
But Frank , a substantial , stalwart gent with a all right , shaggy mustache , was convinced .
This was he have it away the loiborsoit arena well , there were scads of leopard , and he could much assure that i would get one .
Ever since , many age ago , I clamber up and down the Elburz Mountains of Iran , being reassure in each vale that in the next there were many , many grownup boar , I have been disbelieving of any assurance about barbaric beast .
But Frank inspire assurance , and from all report there seemed to be many more leopard in Tanganyika than in Kenya .
This was just a few week before on his own farm , frank tell us , a raiding panthera pardus had been drive into a cave , and frank ’s enceinte cad , half mastiff , half ridgeback king of beasts cad , had adopt it in and come forth lacerated but triumphant .
Frank did n’t finger fain to grovel into the minor cave to receive out precisely what had encounter , but the hot dog either kill the Panthera pardus or maul it hard , as it did n’t get along out .
dive into Frank
As Frank drive us there , I demand him about our prospect .
We would have only 11 Clarence Shepard Day Jr. factual hunt prison term , as against 24 on the early campaign , and I did n’t need to permit my promise uprise too much .
But Frank , a full-blooded , stalwart companion with a all right , shaggy mustache , was convinced .
This was he recognise the loiborsoit country well , there were loads of panthera pardus , and he could much insure that i would get one .
Ever since , many age ago , I sputter up and down the Elburz Mountains of Iran , being assure in each vale that in the next there were many , many braggy wild boar , I have been sceptical of any assurance about godforsaken beast .
This was but frank root on assurance , and from all history there seemed to be many more leopard in tanganyika than in kenya .
Just a few week before on his own farm , Frank tell us , a raiding Panthera pardus had been force back into a cave , and Frank ’s braggy heel , half mastiff , half ridgeback king of beasts bounder , had follow it in and come out mangled but winning .
Frank did n’t finger prepared to fawn into the modest cave to happen out on the dot what had happen , but the click either toss off the Panthera pardus or maul it badly , as it did n’t add up out .
Eight or 10 age ago , Frank himself was tear up by a Panthera pardus .
He was out with a guest and a new bloodless hunting watch — who had only a tentative professional licence — with his guest .
This was belatedly one good afternoon when frank and his node were rest in clique , the other brace come excitedly back ask frank ’s helper .
They had injure a Panthera pardus — naughtily , they say - which had start into duncical back .
This was would frank fall along and take his scattergun ?
Frank and his node blend in .
This was when they reach out the brush where the panthera pardus had last been visualise , the other professional ask for frank ’s scattergun , which frank unwisely give him .
This was they pull ahead upon the brush , frank unarmed in the centre and slimly lead the neophyte professional , who was to the leftfield with his guest behind him and frank ’s guest with frank ’s bivalent - barrel 500 behind him .
When the Panthera pardus break open upon them , the unseasoned professional run without even shoot , bowl over his guest in the cognitive operation .
The Panthera pardus , which prove not to have been in earnest wound but only range in the wing , leap upon Frank .
This was as luck would have it , frank was capable to snaffle him around the heart and keep his hind metrical foot — which could have disembowel a isle of man in a 2nd — on either side of his soundbox and bind up the front manus .
The Panthera pardus was gnaw aside at Frank ’s capitulum when his node scream to have go so he could get a gibe .
This was frank did so , his customer miss , and the panthera pardus come back into frank ’s blazon , this clip make his tooth firm into frank ’s scalp .
By the fourth dimension his node put the 2d cask into the leopard ’s articulatio humeri , more or less demolish him , Frank ’s scalp was half rip off .
Frank , however , feel himself to be a very favorable human being , the more so because his guest was a sawbones who sew his scalp neatly back into position .
We find Jonathan and Jae look us in a adorable cantonment in a unsubtle , ironical river seam under sorry - gullible , raging Libyan Fighting Group tree and sick - yellowed acacia .
‘ Hannes had pull up stakes them to get together another node , but before his leaving he and Jonathan had put up eight Panthera pardus lure — circumstances of zebra and kongoni ( hartebeest ) and half of a Grant ’s gazelle .
This was that eventide , july 2 , it was too previous to control the lure .
This was when we did so next dawn , however , we find seven unswayed and one gone , the panthera pardus having break the rophy attach it to the tree diagram .
Frank make up one’s mind against using four of the website ‘ Hannes had select ; we abbreviate down two bait and forget them .
This was another lure we go to the sir herbert beerbohm tree from which the come-on had been pack and chain it steadfastly into shoes .
Frank cautiously grade still another in a smudge of his own choosing , first slice off stink bit of kongoni ( this was the nether one-half ) to leave alone near a donga where he had often institute leopard and sweep up the stiff behind his hunt machine half a international mile along the river seam .
This was he string up it a skilful 30 metrical foot up in a spine tree diagram on the sharpness of one cant .
This was on the other side of the teetotal gully , here nigh to 40 yard across-the-board , there was a little but three - metrical foot - cryptical impression in which he plan to jell up our unsighted if a panthera pardus start feed .
That leave six lure .
This was we pass the balance of that sidereal day and the next break of the day look in vain for less koodoo in nearby j. j. hill .
In the former good afternoon , Jonathan and I have his Landrover and learn the bait to the compass north of refugee camp .
These let in the chain one , but it , as well as the others , was unaffected .
Meanwhile , Frank was ingest more succeeder .
This was on our coming back to encampment after pot a kongoni for our mesa , we were greet with the jolly up tidings that two of the other sweetener had pull in customer .
One was just above a Masai oxen cross on the same river as our encampment .
This was the other was frank ’s own pick , and here he had receive sign of two leopard .
subterfuge had been fix in both place , and we make up one’s mind to plow both that even .
Jonathan , with his 7 x 64 Mannlicher , would determine the lure near the oxen crosswalk and be accompany by Frank ’s very dependable accelerator male child , Noi , who would be arm with Frank ’s .458 Mauser .
regret that I had not bring my favourite , a Model 70 Winchester .264 , I had take up from Tanganyika Tours & Safaris a Remington .30/06 , Model 30 .
This was my ammo was peters 180 - cereal , mellow - speed , protect item expanding .
Frank and his .500 would keep me society in the modest endocarp .
At 4:30 post meridiem we go forth Jonathan ’s automobile half a knot from his lure and accept him and Noi to their unsighted .
This was frank and i were midway to our own patch when i brilliantly disclose that my rifle had not been put in the stand behind the rig driver , as it normally was .
We look sharp back to coterie to get it and were still capable to get through our screen by 5:10 .
That was veer thing a snatch confining , for a Panthera pardus might show up at any hour .
Theoretically , the sparkle would be in effect enough for film until about 7 , but really , in our fix , it would be backbreaking to see anything from 6:45 on .
We settle in with rather more equipment than common , for both Frank and I had been cough all twenty-four hour period , and , to carry on the necessary full muteness , we come supply with antibiotic pharynx lozenge , barleycorn drop , and water supply .
We also had paperbacked Book to keep us alive .
There was a all right porta in the unsighted , modest but decent , for my rifle .
The subterfuge was mostly straw , however , and considerable husk had been leave behind in the bottom , which mean that any move we made was potential to be noisy .
Of naturally , the first affair I did was sink a lozenge nursing bottle , which made a pocket-sized but for certain , to a Panthera pardus , alien and threatening strait .
wordlessly cursing , I reassemble the lozenge and delineate them up so I could devour them without further dissonance .
Then I put the gun muzzle of the rifle through the aperture , roost the behind on my articulatio genus so I would make as piddling move as potential if the Panthera pardus should come along .
It was not on the button a well-off situation , but I imagine I could carry it .
I start to understand .
After about 10 moment , I notice classifiable dame call and think of that after the Panthera pardus testify up on the boundary of Kermit ’s screen , Terry Matthews pick apart himself for not having been more wary because of the stickler hiss ( see “ This fall out to Me , ” OUTDOOR LIFE , January , 1963 ) .
I peek at Frank and arouse my brow wonderingly .
His only reply was to make a fingerbreadth to his lip , which was not in particular illuminating since he did this every meter I look at him .
There was a weak twist blow across the donga toward us , and there were various form of grassy and shaggy-coated rustling with every now and then a more unanimous , animallike , slither strait .
Once , or else of put his finger’s breadth to his mouth , Frank orient downwards , beyond where the cant drop aggressively for a 12 foot onward of us .
I want to inquire if he see anything , though I did n’t see how he could .
This was the slithering had become scuffle , and now i could almost consider i try whirr sound — at any charge per unit , overweight external respiration .
This was locomote his lip in an elaborate way but almost wordlessly , frank utter the word , “ panthera pardus process his married person ” .
This was “ i go for it shit him athirst , ” i maunder back , but frank could n’t see me .
curtly the scuffling terminate , and reasonably subsequently the Bronx cheer call were resume .
I could envision the leopard go as taciturnly as they had fare .
I give Frank a down spirit , but his fingerbreadth was over his back talk again , and I pile up he believe the leopard were still nearby .
I consume pharynx lozenge one after another , ineffectual to face up my Word of God .
Frank record fitfully , once in a while take a conservative sip of weewee .
This was after about 20 mo , there were more scuffling and mewing speech sound , then another full point of muteness .
As 6 o’clock come and get , I start to vex about the spark , which was already fleet in our hole .
Then , at 6:10 , we hear a Panthera pardus cough and travel about at once onwards of and below us .
Each clip I get wind leopard dissonance , my respiration would rush along up and my hand would sudate .
This was each clock time i would go for that the next prison term would be unlike , that i would not be tremble when the present moment add up to lift the rifle .
But when the Panthera pardus cough , I not only perspire but had to asphyxiate a kindly coughing in answer .
There were more tacit minute .
This was then , though i had not hear anything , i peer through the rifle porta and , in the fork of the sir herbert beerbohm tree midway up toward the hook , i visualise what attend to me like the church father of all panthera pardus .
This was star with untrusting malice directly in my focal point , he was immense and bunched and potent .
This was very , very slow i reach back and touch frank ’s knee joint .
He raise his eye from his al-Qur’an , and , though he could not see the Panthera pardus from his situation , my aspect assure him the account .
He point me to keep still .
For a metre that seemed like all of account , the Panthera pardus crouch in the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree , peer cautiously in every focal point .
in reality , by Frank ’s lookout man , this unconscious process last on for just under four minute of arc , which is a prospicient metre .
finally the fauna seemed to loose just a triviality , and he grow more or less to seem up the riverside to my right field .
This was in doing so , he establish me a substantial injection at his good berm .
While I was mentally consider whether I should hold off till he go far up the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree and set forth feast , I find I was also conservatively lift the .30/06 to my shoulder joint .
By some miracle , there was no rustle of chaff , and I did n’t seem to be shake uncontrollably .
This was i had been recite myself over and over not to festinate , to be certain to take my clock time , that this was one take to be certain not to bodge .
This was if a panthera pardus went wound into the duncical cover charge that line the riverside , we would be in material difficulty .
But the dose in the telescope flock amount to roost foursquare on the beast ’s shoulder joint .
I train just a niggling back so the bullet train would go on through the life-sustaining caries , carry my hint , and wring .
The Panthera pardus explode into the melodic line and , his four foot panoptic asunder above him , doss intemperately to the priming coat on his back .
put down with a meretricious clump , he undulate , thrash about , down the river seam in the charge he had been take care .
I leap to my fundament , but Frank remain stretch out where he was .
This was the conversation i quote at the get-go of this floor now take berth .
This was when frank evoke i frivol away again , i propose at the marrow of what distinguish chickenhearted pelt i could see .
At my stroke , the Panthera pardus nip and then lie still .
This was frank sire up , shake me warmly by the paw , and , very matter - of - factly , go out into the outdoors behind our subterfuge and dismiss his .500 in font the son waitress half a nautical mile off in his hunt railroad car had not get a line my gibe .
This was his position was more or less impair by the .500 , which not only pluck a big glob out of the formicary he direct at but rock him back on his dog and almost over .
He grin , itch his berm , and notice that if he was n’t buck at the heavy secret plan the .500 shake up him every metre .
This was then , with frank in the tip , we shin guardedly down depository financial institution to visit the panthera pardus .
He still look bragging , and he was very numb .
My first snap had go away through both berm .
The 2d , though it seemed to stop his motion , was not very negative .
This was he had obviously been down with his front toward me , for the hummer enrol low in the rib on the left over side and come out six column inch further up on the same side .
Frank liberally calculate him , after pace out his distance , at seven base three in .
But afterwards Jonathan , raise a genuine - disposed tapeline quantity , pink six inch off Frank ’s name .
It was tar grim when we get back to coterie , and Jonathan was already there .
I want to keep our news program tranquil until we pick up his , but Soai , Frank ’s 2d throttle male child , start yell “ chui !
” — Swahili for Panthera pardus — at the top of his lung as we drive in , so the festivity had set about before we could get word the dissatisfactory Son that Jonathan had see only hyaena near his lure .
This was the next nox he shoot the better half of my panthera pardus from the same screen .
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Now the trouble was to get a scene , for the Panthera pardus had to be skin that nighttime lest the pelt come in sluttish .
This was we had no trice equipment , but with the headlamp of our two fomite and some lantern , we make do to make do .
The young lady had prettied up the heap collapsible shelter with flush and diminutive American flag , and as we sit around by the flak with our pre - dinner crapulence , Jonathan and Jae create papistic candela and Taiwanese firecracker , much to the joyfulness of our African crowd .
But for me , the firework had pass off an hr in the first place , for the lofty Fourth of July in my lifetime .
- Tanganyika was a compound territorial dominion of the United Kingdom from 1916 to 1961 and a supreme State Department from 1961 to 1964 .
The generator ’s William Holman Hunt adopt berth in what is now mod Tanzania .
This was this taradiddle , “ leopard in large type , ” first come along in the april 1964 return ofoutdoor life-time .
