ENCOUNTERS WITH WOUNDED ANIMALS. 281 



going are also important, as they indicate that the 

 animal was staggering, and if so it has probably not 

 gone far. When a beast once lies down, great care 

 should be used not to start it again, as an animal 

 rested by lying down is apt to run stronger than it 

 did before resting and may not be seen again. 



Should any conflict arise between a non-dangerous 

 wounded animal and the hunter, the mounted man has 

 a read}'' weapon of offence, of the club type, in his 

 stirrup irons ; a very heavy blow can be dealt with the 

 stirrup, as a weapon, swung at the end of its leather; 

 and its use in this way is an old Australian kangaroo 

 hunting plan, often practised by bushrangers, etc., 

 mentioned among others by Mr. Nichols : " Stepped 

 forward to give a blow with the stirrup iron, as Tom 

 had done in the morning. He swung the stirrup iron 

 to the full length of the leather, and knocked the 

 creature senseless, and ended all further resistance." * 



If a heavy animal has to be taken to camp to be 

 cut up for supplies, an old African plan is to cut down 

 one or more good-sized branches or bushes, and laying 

 the animal on these, to have it dragged home in this 

 way, using the branches as a makeshift sledge, which 

 partially saves the hide and meat from injury by the way. 



We must not omit the subject of night-shooting, 

 from prepared positions in rifle-pits, or from platforms 

 constructed on trees. For the most part these are 

 used for the purpose of getting shots at the larger 

 beasts of prey, whose habits are strictly nocturnal, 

 their days being passed in dense bush where it is 



* Wild Life in the Australian Bush, by Arthur Nichols, Vol. ii, 

 pp. 7778. 



