Unthinking persons talk of the fearful rapidity of a lion or tiger's
spring. It is not rapid at all: it is a slow movement, as must be evident
from The following consideration. No wild animal can leap ten yards, and
they all make a high trajectory in their leaps. Now, think of the speed
of a ball thrown, or rather pitched, with just sufficient force to be
caught by a person ten yards off: it is a mere nothing. The catcher can
play with it as he likes; he has even time to turn after it, if thrown
wide. But the speed of a springing animal is undeniably the same as that
of a ball, thrown so as to make a flight of equal length and height in
the air. The corollary to all this is, that, if charged, you must keep
cool and watchful, and your chance of escape is far greater than
non-sportsmen would imagine. The blow of the free paw is far swifter than
the bound.
Dogs kept at bay.--A correspondent assures me that "a dog flying at a
man may be successfully repelled by means of a stout stick held
horizontally, a hand at each end, and used to thrust the dog backwards
over, by meeting him across the throat or breast. If followed by a blow
on the nose, as the brute is falling, the result will be sooner
attained."
A watch-dog usually desists from flying at a stranger when he seats
himself quietly on the ground, like Ulysses. The dog then contents
himself with barking and keeping guard until his master arrives.
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