72 THE SHIKARI 



Also never approach head on, as should the beast 

 spring up it will bowl you straight over, and to say the 

 least you will not be very steady for a departing shot 

 when you get on your legs again. 



The author was nearly caught this way once with a 

 wounded waterbuck which was hit high up on the 

 shoulder, and only just jumped aside in time to let the 

 great heavy beast blunder past him, when a quick shot 

 broadside on fetched him down for good. 



In the Transvaal the writer was on one occasion 

 called to the aid of a small Kaffir child that had been 

 struck with the horn of a reedbuck. It appeared that 

 the boy had been walking through the grass not far 

 from the kraal, and had evidently unwittingly walked 

 head on to the sleeping animal, which in its fright 

 sprang up straight into him, caught him with the point 

 of the horn, knocked him over, and had gone clean 

 away. The lad said that the buck attacked him, but 

 the above seems the more reasonable explanation. 



Hunting on Horseback. — A good shooting pony 

 is a very useful adjunct in many parts of the world, 

 especially in open country where the smaller antelope, 

 such as the springbuck of Africa, or deer, as the pampa 

 and savannah deer of South America, are to be found, 

 not only for galloping down the game and so getting 

 within shot, but also a pony can be left in a prominent 

 position for the game to see, and this gives the 

 rider a chance to make a detour and stalk within 

 range. 



