406 
ELEPHANT-HUNTING IN EAST AFRICA 
CHAP. 
suspend the butt, as shown, so that it swings freely and may 
be pulled forward without any effort. The two posts driven 
into the ground, one on each side of the stock, keep it in 
position, and should be just far enough apart to allow of its 
sliding easily between them. The trigger being attached by a 
string to these posts, the animal, on taking the bait, and with 
it the muzzle, into its mouth, shoots itself neatly. A convenient 
way of judging the right height for the gun is to go down on 
hands and knees in front of it, thus impersonating the hyena. 
Thorny branches must be placed all round it, to prevent the 
animal approaching from any direction but straight in front, 
and there a little path should be left, exactly opposite the 
muzzle, with a thorny barrier on each side. All can be made 
ready during the afternoon, and the cartridge slipped in and 
gun cocked last thing in the evening. 
Fig. B shows the best way of setting a gun at an opening 
in a fence, as where an animal has been killed by lions and 
every other entrance blocked except a narrow one in front of 
the muzzle. The gun is securely tied to posts (or convenient 
small trees may often be utilised both in this and the previous 
method) and the trigger tied back to the guard, so that the 
hammer works freely up and down without cocking. A piece 
of light, hard wood is then cut, of the shape shown in the 
drawing, to support the raised hammer, its base resting beside 
