Leopard Summary and Analysis

In an African village, July, an older man, watches his only surviving son walk toward the hut from the fringes of town. Suddenly, a big male leopard emerges from the evening shadow and slams into the youth, dropping him to the ground instantly, changing hold in a flash, and then disappearing into the night darkness. July screams out and rushes into the darkness shrieking before friends intervene and delay him. Capstick is in the village for the evening and takes his Evans .470 Nitro in hand. Joined by two trackers, Simone and Debalo, a bushman, Capstick inspects the spoor. The amount and type of blood the find rapidly makes it obvious that the boy was dead seconds after the attack. July receives an injection and is led away. Capstick, Simone, and Debalo wait until morning and then track the leopard. From his...