236 THROUGH ANGOLA 



immediately becomes still and silent. The sense 

 of smell is more acute and fully reasoned, for the 

 least scent, from a great distance, may determine 

 flight, unless the animals are in the open plains, 

 where they may recognize danger, but trust to 

 speed and their distance from the hunter to evade 

 it. Game can then be approached by appearing 

 to pass it by, while actually and steadily edging 

 nearer to it. 



You may hear the animals before you see them 

 the rumbling of an elephant's stomach, or the 

 flapping of his ears, the lowing of buffalo and 

 blowing of hippo, the snort of the rhino and 

 larger antelope, the grunt of lion or leopard, and 

 the bark of the kudu and bush buck ; you may 

 actually smell them if they are close, or have 

 recently passed by. 



Always be silent of body and voice, observe 

 carefully and obtain the largest possible view by 

 constantly climbing ant-hills or trees, or getting 

 your guide to do so. 



Stalk with infinite care, and when you have 

 come up with the animal, shoot to kill, for it is, 

 at the very least, the beast's due that he should 

 suffer as little as possible for your sport. The 

 shot behind the shoulder is the most usual, and 

 the safest with practically all big-game animals ; 

 for if you miss the heart, your bullet may smash 

 shoulder or lungs, and cripple the animal. The 

 brain shot, if you are sure of it, should be reserved 

 for elephant or rhino when broadside on, and 

 buffalo or lion when charging, and within a few 

 feet of you. The first shot is the most important 



