



Produced by Steven desJardins and the Online Distributed
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THE LEAGUE OF THE LEOPARD

HAROLD BINDLOSS




[Illustration: "AT DAWN THEY WERE STILL RIDING"--_Page 230_]




THE LEAGUE OF THE LEOPARD

BY HAROLD BINDLOSS

AUTHOR OF "PRESCOTT OF SASKATCHEWAN," "THE LONG
PORTAGE," "RANCHING FOR SYLVIA," ETC.

WITH A FRONTISPIECE IN COLOR
BY CARLTON GLIDDEN

[Illustration]

NEW YORK

FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS

_June, 1914_




CONTENTS

 Chap.                                  Page
     I.  A DANGEROUS BEQUEST                1
    II.  AN UNDERSTANDING                  15
   III.  AT THE ELBOW POOL                 30
    IV.  THE POACHER                       43
     V.  THE TRYST AT HALLOWS BRIG         56
    VI.  DANE'S SILENCE                    71
   VII.  A WARNING                         85
  VIII.  TREACHERY                         96
    IX.  TEMPTATION                       110
     X.  RIDEAU'S BARGAIN                 125
    XI.  THE TRAIL OF THE LEOPARD         137
   XII.  WEALTH IN SIGHT                  149
  XIII.  PESTILENCE                       163
   XIV.  AN EVENTFUL DECISION             177
    XV.  THE BOARDING OF THE KABUNDA      189
   XVI.  ILLUMINATION                     202
  XVII.  IN NEED OF HELP                  214
 XVIII.  MAXWELL'S CONFIDENCE             227
   XIX.  THE DANGEROUS SENORITA           240
    XX.  MAXWELL'S LAST MARCH             251
   XXI.  RELIEF                           262
  XXII.  ON TO THE COAST                  274
 XXIII.  AN EYE FOR AN EYE                285
  XXIV.  THE ESCAPE                       297
   XXV.  THE HEART OF BONITA CASTRO       311
  XXVI.  REWARDED                         320




THE LEAGUE OF THE LEOPARD




CHAPTER I

A DANGEROUS BEQUEST


It was very hot in the little West African factory where trader Niven
lay dying. The sea breeze had died away, and though sunset drew near, it
was not yet time for the spicy airs from the inland forest to mitigate
the temperature. The dust lay still in the sun-scorched compound, about
which the palm fronds hung motionless, and only the roar of breakers on
the beach broke through the drowsy silence.

Two white men lounged in cane chairs upon the veranda which encircled
the building. Both were limp, gaunt of frame, and pallid in face,
because the climate they lived in is particularly unhealthy. Neither had
enjoyed much education, or felt the lack of it in the trade they
followed, while the cocktail jug on the little table betokened their
favorite relaxation. Redmond and Gilby were West Coast traders who lived
far remote from intercourse