90 THE COMPLETE SPORTSMAN 



and the hunter's one chance of safety lies in 

 climbing a tree and remaining perdu in its 

 branches until the indignant reptile grows 

 weary of waiting and goes home. 



When mauled by a bison or a buffalo, it is a 

 useful thing to remember that these animals 

 have extraordinary sensitive snouts, and a self- 

 possessed sportsman who is in imminent danger 

 of being trampled to death may occasionally 

 avoid an untimely end by the simple process of 

 pulling the nose of his would-be murderer. 

 Even an elephant dislikes having his nasal 

 organ interfered \\dth, and, like all heavy ani- 

 mals, entertains a strong prejudice against 

 running down-hill. When pursued by a 

 " rogue," therefore, it is sometimes possible to 

 elude capture by slapping the elephant smartly 

 on the trunk and rushing headlong down the 

 nearest declivity with the grace and abandon 

 of a Gadarene swine. A wounded bear, on the 

 other hand, will generally take refuge in its 

 cave, whence it is a difficult matter to entice 

 it. For this reason many bear-hunters provide 

 themselves with fireworks, and drop a lighted 

 squib into the creature's lair, habitat ^ or (as 

 the French would call it) ventre a terre. But 

 if, as often happens, the cracker fails to ex- 

 plode, sportsmen are forced to draw lots to 

 decide which of them shall enjoy the privilege 



