CHAPTER XXI
baby leopards
I CHRISTENED little Dick, the baby leopard I am going to tell you about. To begin with, the little fellow had a great deal to be proud of. He came into the world well-born. His father was the largest and handsomest leopard in the whole menagerie, and his mother was the sweetest tempered and best behaved animal the zoo boasted. Little Dick inherited the fine points of both parents. He is a tiny weentie mite of gold coloured fur, handsomely marked with black spots. His under parts were cream coloured, paling to white, his eyes were deep blue and helpless looking; but his mustachios bristled saucily and when annoyed he spit and showed temper. At birth he was about the size of a half-grown cat. When he was five weeks old, his mother died. Two days later, his father was sold and little Dick was left an orphan. He bore his
193
