16 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



leg I was hauling upon as sent me flying some yards into the 

 scrub. If the deer had had free play for his leg, he might have 

 done worse than make me a laughing stock for my Indians. 



When you get your shot be careful where you place it, and 

 if the beast is moving towards you, let him pass before firing, if 

 possible. If it is only a deer, a raking shot, striking him even 

 a little far back and travelling transversely through him, will be 

 much more likely to go through vital organs and stop him than 

 one fired from in front ; and, besides, a shot of this kind is not 

 so likely to reveal the shooter at once to the beast and elicit a 

 charge, if the beast is a dangerous one, as when fired right into 

 his face. 



Don't, unless absolutely compelled to, fire at dangerous 

 game above you. A wounded beast naturally comes down 

 hill, and you are likely to be in its way if you fire from below ; 

 besides, a wounded beast will come quicker down hill than up. 

 If your beast should charge you, stand still and go on shooting. 

 Your chance may be a poor one, but in nine cases out of ten 

 it is the best you have got. 



But if after all your care, and even after you have heard (or 

 think that you have heard) the bullet smack upon your stag's 

 shoulder, he should show absolutely no sign of being hit, except 

 perhaps a slight shiver or contraction of his muscles if even he 

 should turn and bolt at headlong speed do not be at once dis- 

 couraged ; no, not even if you should follow him for many 

 hundred yards without finding a single splash of blood upon 

 the trail. Don't listen to your Indian, if you have reason to 

 think that you held straight, even though appearances justify 

 his assertion that you made a clean miss. That little spasmodic 

 shiver is a hopeful sign. When you see your stag do this, you 

 may be very sure that he is hard hit in a vital spot, and he will not 

 .go far. It he starts off at racing pace, he will probably pitch 

 over on his head, dead, at the end of a hundred yards ; and 

 even if he does not bleed at first, follow him persistently : flesh 

 wounds often bleed more freely than more dangerous ones, 

 and it is quite on the cards that you will at last find that your 



