XXV 
THE SAMBUR 
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interspersed with a few green branches. I sat upon 
a turn-stool behind this screen, and cannot 
remember that I was ever observed until the 
animal had passed me. I frequently had oppor¬ 
tunities of watching the animals approach when 
the wind was fair, and they never espied the 
hidden danger until they gained the wind by 
passing my position. 
This style of shooting does not sound like fair 
sport, but in many places it is the only method that 
can be adopted. If a man is young and active, he 
may distinguish himself as a back-gun behind the 
line of beaters : he will then have plenty of hard 
work, and will generally obtain better shooting than 
those in the front, for whom the beat is organised. 
In places of difficulty, where we were doubtful of 
success in driving the game forward, I always placed 
the two brothers in the rear of the beaters. The 
greater portion of the game was shot when breaking 
back. 
Frequently, upon mountain sides so steep that it 
appeared impossible for any four-footed animal to 
ascend, the sambur stag would thread its way by 
some well-known game-path, and hide among the 
great fragments of rock which had fallen from the 
crest above. There were always men who mounted 
the extreme ridge, and rolled down stones to disturb 
the jungle by their crash. Whenever a stag was 
seen hiding among the sheltering rocks and bush, a 
tremendous yell from the men above gave warning 
to those who were below. The fun then commenced 
