UNSTEADY HORSES. 233 



terrible nuisance, and is also apt sooner or later to 

 cause some accident to one's guns, such as a broken 

 stock, or dinged barrel. 



The lamentable death of the late Prince Imperial of 

 France in a nameless skirmish in Zululand, in June 

 1879, was brought about precisely in this way. His 

 horse became restive the moment the Zulus opened 

 fire, and before the poor boy could succeed in mount- 

 ing, they ran in upon him and speared him. 



Sir Samuel Baker also, when in the Soudan, on his 

 way to the discovery of the sources of the Nile, was 

 as nearly as possible killed on one occasion in the 

 same sort of way. In this case an elephant charged 

 down upon him while he was trying to mount a frightened 

 shooting horse. 



As for the loss of game and of shots, most of us 

 have probably at one time or another met with dis- 

 appointment and inconvenience from this source. 



In South America, the Gauchos always make a 

 practice of blindfolding their horses when they want 

 them to stand perfectly steady ; as a rule a blindfolded 

 horse is afraid to move, and stands under almost every 

 sort of circumstance stock-still; with troublesome mules 

 the practice is almost a necessity, while loading and 

 saddling, etc. 



Another most serious eventuality is a horse running 

 off when he sees his rider approaching with the intent 

 to catch him. It may be said that it is a man's own 

 fault if he leaves his horse loose so as to be able to 

 do this; as a rule this charge may be "a true bill," 

 but there are times when it may occur when no 

 precaution could have prevented it; as for instance 

 after a fall, when perhaps the horse has come down 



