86 THE SHIKARI 



That these creatures have a wonderful sense of 

 smell is shown not only by the above, but by an 

 incident that happened to the writer on a tributary 

 of the Zambesi. 



A reach with shallow water and a sand-bank or two 

 was a very favourite spot for crocodiles, and when 

 an hour or two could be spared, good practice could 

 be obtained by lying hidden behind the bushes on the 

 bank, the trick being to only shoot the beast through 

 the eyes. 



One that was shot like this and was rolling over 

 and over, first belly up and then back up, was waded 

 out after to give it a finishing shot ; when some 50 

 or 60 yards off, it seemed to steady itself, waggled its 

 nose about as though getting a line, and without 

 warning came like a torpedo straight at him, and 

 had not another shot through the head at only a 

 few yards' distance stopped the brute dead, a nasty 

 collision would have occurred, especially as the 

 writer was too deep in the water, nearly up to the 

 waist, to be able to run out. 



A lesson like this was worth remembering, and 

 was always borne in mind afterwards. 



Duck, geese, and swans are almost universal, especially 

 the former, in country where there are rivers, swamps, or 

 lagoons, and afford both excellent shooting and good 

 eating. Very big bags can sometimes be made where 

 they are plentiful, and as a rule where lagoons and 

 large waterholes supply water for the big game there 



