DRIVING GAME. 271 



It is however rather a risky expedient and should 

 only be adopted as a last resource, for it is impos- 

 sible to count upon the movements of game when 

 once disturbed. If they suspect they are being headed 

 towards a hidden enemy, game will break back in the 

 most determined manner, and will sometimes force 

 their way right through a line of beaters, rather than 

 face the unseen foe which they suspect may be lurk- 

 ing in the opposite direction. Mr. Gordon Gumming, 

 the celebrated South African hunter, usually adopted 

 this plan on the immense open plains there, which 

 were at that time literally covered with herds of game. 

 He used to do his hunting almost entirely on horse- 

 back, and his advice in such cases is 



" if the hunter from knowledge of the country can tell the 

 course the game will take, a herd being discovered, the after- 

 rider is directed to remain quiet till the hunter has 

 proceeded by a wide semi-circle some miles to windward of 

 the herd, which being accomplished, the after-rider runs at 

 them and drives the herd towards the hunter, who by riding 

 hard for their line generally manages to get within easy shot 

 as the panting herd strains past him." * 



The same thing may however be effected in a 

 quieter way by a man on foot. 



Where there are hills, there are generally certain 

 passes among them where the game make a practice 

 of heading for. It is here that a knowledge of the 

 locality comes in so useful, as the hunter can, if he 

 knows these points, station himself in such a position 

 as to command them, and get shots at anything pass- 

 ing that way. It has also been often remarked that 



* Five Years of a Hunter's Life in the Far Interior of South 

 Africa, by Roualeyn Gordon Gumming of Altyre, Vol. i., 1880, p. 201. 



