238 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



the deer broke bay, and as he was in the act of 

 using his knife overhand, like a dagger, it was forced 

 into his own chest, causing almost instantaneous death. 

 A knife should invariably be used underhand with 

 the edge uppermost. It is hardly necessary for me to 

 say that the knife on which one's life may depend 

 should never be used for any other purpose than that 

 for which it is made. It should be kept as sharp as 

 a razor, and if not of the finest workmanship, should 

 be of iron. An old file makes an excellent couteau-de- 

 chasse. Inferior steel is worse than useless. The way 

 to test a knife is to drive it through a penny ; if it will 

 not stand this it is useless. As the following anecdote 

 will prove, English hunting-knives, though bearing 

 well-known Sheffield names, are not to be relied upon* 

 always. 



One morning F and I were out with his 



hounds. They soon found, but to our disgust, 

 before they had run far, their cry turned to furious 

 barking, interspersed with doleful yellings, which left 

 no doubt as to the nature of the game. We hurried 

 towards them. 



On arriving on the scene we found the boar for 

 such we had rightly concluded it to be had taken 

 refuge in a thicket of dense lantana jungle, where we 

 could hardly see him. What was worse, we could not 

 possibly get to him, the only openings being a couple 

 of game runs not two feet high. Meanwhile F 



* My own knife is of the well-known make of the Wilkinson 

 Sword Company in Pall Mall. It is absolutely reliable, and as it has 

 seen service in three continents, I may say it has been well tested. 



