302 
WILD BEASTS AND THEIR WAYS 
CHAP. 
stem would probably be 12 feet in length ; he bends 
it down, and with a piece of twisted bark he ties the 
thin end to a neighbouring tree-stem, so that it lies 
horizontally secured. He now cuts a similar sapling 
from the opposite side, and bends that down on the 
top of the first pole. He secures them together. 
This forms a strong double rail, against which he 
plants a row of small green boughs, broken off the 
trees, and arranged to look as though they grew 
naturally in their new position. This makes an 
admirable screen, behind which he squats upon the 
ground, invisible. He is so low that he is beneath 
the ordinary line of view; as all wild animals, when 
disturbed and expecting danger, are looking out for 
man, the shikari is far below; when squatting, 
and stooping behind his leafy screen, he is hardly 
more than 20 inches high. A European could not 
compress himself into so small a compass. An 
animal will always regard a level from 3 to 6 feet 
above the surface, therefore it will generally overlook 
so low an object as 20 to 24 inches. 
I have frequently asked these men whether they 
were in danger should a tiger or bear be driven 
towards them : they replied that there was only a 
remote probability of their being observed by the 
animals, who would pass by without seeing them. 
Whenever arranging a hiding-place for myself, 
I used much stronger material, and bent down 
two horizontal poles about 3-Jr feet above the 
surface. I then filled in the space beneath with 
thorns, against which I laid tufts of withered grass 
