One traveler tells of having witnessed the pursuit and destruction of a large leopard by a pack of wild dogs. Whether or not the dogs had set out with the intention of capturing the leopard, he could not tell. He saw them start up the great cat in a low jungle. The leopard made no effort at first to fight off its assailants; but, with a series of prodigious springs, sought shelter in the only refuge the plain afforded--a tree which had partially fallen. There the hunted beast stood, snarling and growling in a manner that would have frightened off any ordinary foe. The savage dogs, however, never hesitated a moment, but with agile leaps ran up the sloping trunk, and gave instant battle to their furious game. One after another, the dogs were hurled back, each stroke of the terrible paw making one foe the less. Yet they continued to throw themselves against the enraged creature, until, wearied by the contest and wounded in fifty places, it fell from the tree; when, still struggling, it was quickly torn to pieces. It must not be supposed, however, that the wild dog usually prefers as formidable game as the leopard. A sheep-fold is always an attraction too great for the wild dog to pass. And now, after calling this wild hunter a dog, I shall have to say that it is not a dog at all, but is only a sort of cousin to the dog, and really a nearer relative of the hyena, though it so resembles both animals as to have gained the name of hyena-dog. Its scientific name is _Lycaon venaticus_; and besides the two common names already mentioned, it has half a dozen more. Being neither dog nor hyena, and yet akin to both, it is one of those strange forms of the animal creation which naturalists call "links." It has four toes, like the hyena, while it has teeth like the dog's. Some attempts have been made to tame it, so as to gain the use of its wonderful powers of hunting; but none of these efforts have yet been successful, because of the suspicious nature of the animal. It seems to feel that every offer of kindness or familiarity is a menace to its liberty. THE THEORETIC TURTLE. BY A. R. W. [Illustration] The theoretic turtle started out to see the toad; He came to a stop at a liberty-pole in the middle of the road. "Now how, in the name of the spouting whale," the indignant turtle cried, "Can I climb this perpendicular cliff, and get on the other side? If I only could make a big balloon, I'd lightly over it fly; Or a very long ladder might reach the top, though it does look fearfully high. If a beaver were in my place, he'd gnaw a passage through with his teeth; I can't do that, but I can dig a tunnel and pass beneath." He was digging his tunnel, with might and main, when a dog looked down at the hole. "The easiest way, my friend," said he, "is to walk around the pole." NAN'S REVOLT. BY ROSE LATTIMORE ALLING. CHAPTER I