“Now, Dinny,” said Dick, “how could you tell it again when you saw it for a moment only.”
“An’ d’ye think it takes half-an-hour for one of me eyes to catch soight of a craythure like that, Masther Dick? Sure I knowed it the moment I set oise upon it as the very same baste.”
“Then you must have excellent eyesight, Dinny,” said Mr Rogers.
“Sure an’ I have that same, sor,” said Dinny proudly, as the boys next brought out the young leopard, which had to be held pretty tightly by the back of the neck to keep it from taking its departure, while the dogs gathered round muttering growls, and longing to take revenge upon the young leopard for the insult put upon them that morning by the mother.
“I think Dinny’s right, boys,” said Mr Rogers, as he looked at the clumsy young leopard, which had a peculiarly heavy kittenish aspect. “I should say it was undoubtedly the mother that dashed in after the dogs, her young one making her the more daring.”
“Sure an’ I knew I was right,” said Dinny complacently. “It was an avil-looking baste, in spite of its foine skin.”
“What are you going to do with the leopard?” said Mr Rogers.
“Keep it, of course, father,” said Jack.
“I don’t see any, ‘of course,’” he replied, smiling; “but try and keep it if you can, though I’m afraid you will find it an awkward customer to tame.”
“Well, let us try,” said Jack; and setting to work he soon contrived a collar of stout wire, which was wrapped round and round with thin leather, a dog-chain attached, and then the dogs were called by Dick.