J. P. Hyde Price

“ The boy was beginning to find out that hunting in the Northern woods was hard enough work. The tiny icicles one the branches hurt his eyes until he looked as though he had been crying and his heart thumped against its ribs as if it would break. ”

“ In an instant he knew that for the first time in his life he was listening to the roar of a lion. The whole air seemed to vibrate, and all around him when silence reigned the air seemed heavy until the roar broke out again.
The engineer heard a step behind him, and on turning his head he found his trusty body servant fully armed. The native, who was an experienced hunter, knew that his master had gone out without his rifle and that he might be in danger at any minute. "Let us lie down," said the native, "and we shall see the king. May be you will get a shot at him." ”

“ The giraffe is a peaceable animal. One has only to look into its beautiful dark eyes to see that. Its weapons of defense consist of its long legs and neck. The legs carry their master off at a great rate when danger is near, while the long neck raises the head, like a tower from which it can always watch out for enemies. The long neck of the giraffe is necessary so it can reach its food, for it feeds mainly on mimosa leaves, which grow some fifteen feet or more from the ground. ”

“ Every creature in the jungle knows that a tiger is at hand and makes off to a place of safety. The tiger, as a rule, slinks away, for it is no use it cannot climb trees and punish its tormentors.
The true sportsmanlike way of hunting the tiger is from the back of an elephant. Although in many instances men have gone out accompanied only by one native and shot tigers on foot. It is exceedingly risky and a man must be very sure of his nerve before he does so, for to miss a shot means instant death. ”

“ Experienced travellers tell us that in a few years the African elephant will be entirely extinct. It is to be hoped that measures will be taken to protect some of the herds before it is too late. It is a well known fact that districts on the East Coast of Africa that had large herds of elephants a few years ago have none to-day, and the blame is almost entirely to be laid at the doors of the white man. A single hunter, armed with an express rifle, can soon kill an elephant, or even several in a day ; whereas, it takes half a native tribe to run down and kill a single specimen. ”

“ One by one ropes are passed around the great beasts and they are coaxed or dragged into the small enclosure and chained up. For days the poor animals struggle until it seems that they could not possibly live through the strain. No sooner are they humbled, and cease fighting when they are fed, well treated, and petted. The elephant has a remarkably large brain for an animal, and is very intelligent. It does not take it long take it long to realize that there is nothing to be gained by fighting, and it learns to behave itself and begins scheming like a boy. ”

“ There were only four in the party; a hunter, a boy, and two backwoods Indians. Before sunrise in the morning the four had all their goods packed in a couple of canoes, and were off down stream to the moose-grounds. It was early in in the spring and in places the snow still lay deep. The wind was biting cold robbing the sun of its warmth. At sundown camp was pitched near the moose-ground, and after a hot supper the men were ready to turn in. Any one who enters the great forest for the first time,—places where man seldom goes—is struck with the deathly stillness. ”

“ If a jaguar comes near a herd of capybaras, they immediately run to the nearest water for the jaguar does not like to get its fur wet any better than the ordinary house cat. On more than one occasion, when a jaguar has been very close in persuit of a capybara, it has been fool enough to follow its prey into the water with the result that the capybara has made a deep dive, leaving its enemy on the surface, and then before the great cat could get to dry land it has had to reckon with a hungry alligator. ”

“ The greatest dread of the trappers is that the incoming herd may run across a tiger and be stampeded. In spite of its large bulk and strength the elephant is afraid of the great cat. The temptation to kill a baby elephant often proves too great for the royal tiger, and fearful battles ensure ; for the elephant will protect its young from enemies with great bravery. If the outskirts of the herd are attacked the beasts are liable to scatter and become so panic-stricken that the old bull may not be able to get them together again for some days. ”

“ A hunter who was travelling in Algeria had heard much talk of the Aoudad. His Arab guides told him that this splendid game creature could only be shot with great difficulty. Now the aoudad is the largest and most powerful of the goat family, and loves the highest and rockiest places it can find, hence it takes great endurance to follow it. The hunter made up his mind however, that he would like to try the hunting at any rate, so an expedition was arranged, and after three or four days he found himself camped on one of the highest slopes of the Atlas Mountains. ”

“ On the floor of the trap is placed a board which acts on a spring, and the instant the tiger goes inside and steps upon it the trap door falls and the animal is a prisoner. Natives then come and lift the cage on to a wagon and carry it off in triumph.
In hunting a tiger does not always have its own way. Curiously enough it is often baulked of its prize by a band of insignificant monkeys. When these little creatures discover a tiger, if they feel in the mood for it, they begin to mob the beast. ”

“ The lion has none of the tiger's slinking habits, and is therefore much easier to approach. In fact, at times it appears to expose itself recklessly. When a lion is disturbed it will come out fearlessly into the open to investigate. On the other hand, the tiger on hearing any suspicious noise will lie closely concealed. If it happens to be a powerful enemy, such as an elephant or an armed man, it slinks away like a shadow. ”

“ This traveller had never heard of a case of baboons actually killing a lion, but nevertheless it is a fact that the mighty "King of Beasts" does not go out of its way to pick a quarrel with these powerful apes.
All baboons feed on fruit and nuts and roots, and never touch flesh. In their anger they may tear their enemy to pieces, but they will not eat the flesh. On the other hand the baboons are very gentle wit their mates, and will fight to the death to protect them. They often play with their baby apes, like grown up people. ”

“ Sir Samuel Baker, a great hunter and explorer, who was an authority on matters relating to the dark continent stated his belief that within a century not a lion would be left alive outside the zoological gardens, for the killing is going on far too rapidly to allow a single specimen to be left. The building of railways makes it easy for man to reach the hunting grounds where before it was very difficult.
Children often ask "which is stronger, the lion or tiger?" ”

“ The shot brought all the men from the camp, and great was the rejoicing at the engineer's success. It took the latter some time, however, to remember where he was; for no man can be kocked down by a lion and go unscathed. When daylight came, he found the shoulder of his coat torn and a claw mark on the stock of his rifle, as neat as if it had been chiseled out. This served ever after to remind him of his first lion hunt.
The lioness gives birth to quite a large family, often six and seven cubs at one time. When they are big enough the mother takes them out with her and are taught to hunt. ”

“ The elephant is also a valued servant of the British army in India. Two of these great creatures will carry a mountain battery, wheels, carriage, gun and ammunition, over rough ground where no roads exist, nor horses can travel, but it is said that when the firing begins the elephant trembles and will not move forward an inch, and it has to be kept well in the rear.
Elephants do all manner of heavy work in India, and at times it seems foolish to have any man in charge, for the great creatures manage themselves so well. ”

“ The only other animal that can be said to pretend to rule in the north is the mighty walrus.
The story is told of a trial of strength between two bears and an odd bull walrus. Now the walrus is easily twice the size and weight of a polar bear and is armed with two enormous tusks. A number of cows and calves were out sunning themselves upon the ice when two polar bears approached and decided that one of the little walrus calves would make a nice dinner. The cows became and the old bull shuffled from side to side and bellowed warnings to the two intruders. ”

“ Around the crocodile's body had already gathered a dozen vultures, patiently waiting until its struggles should cease before beginning their feast.
For so large an animal the giraffe, is very quick in its movements, and can jump forward, or halt without a moment's hesitation. Furthermore it shows a considerable cunning in face of danger.
A certain hunter relates an instance where he saw a giraffe swinging along at a sharp trot. As it passed between some trees a leopard sprang from a limb where it had been hiding. The leopard did not spring true, for it landed too high on the giraffe's neck. ”

“ It seems easier to hunt the elephants on horseback than on foot, but in the latter fashion the hunter is really much safer, for he can turn and dodge and take advantage of cover more quickly than when on horseback. More than one hunter has lost his life through his horse obeying the rein just a second too late.
Some of the African tribes kill the elephant in an ingenious manner. They find a pathway leading to some drinking pool where the elephant come down at night. They dig a pit deep enough to prevent the elephant from scrambling out once it has tumbled in. ”

“ As
the herd marches along it gathers in stragglers from all points. This takes a good deal of time, and the odd bull is often away several days before it appears on its way back to the corral. The trappers do not worry for they know that the old scoundrel understands its business. Sometimes the bull elephant will go off in a most roundabout way, as though it had to hunt its victims out of holes and corners. ”

“ When an elephant is seized with panic nothing can stop it, and any one who happens to be upon its back at the time never forgets the ride. It is said that an elephant that has once been clawed by a tiger is never safe to use again, at least for hunting, for it seems to lose all its nerve. When a tiger attacks an elephant it is usually in front, and trunk bears the brunt of the battle. ”

“ The baboons live in large bands among the rocks on the hillsides, and they are greatly dreaded by the natives. They will not molest a traveller unless he comes too close, or is armed, but at times they will raid the villages or the gardens in large numbers, and the killed and wounded on both sides show how fierce has been the fighting.
Some naturalists travelling in Abyssinia were most anxious to get specimens of these dog-like apes. They took experienced native hunters with them, and travelled all night towards the hills, and before sun-rise they had reached the hunting ground. ”

“ At the bottom of the pit they place an upright, sharpened, wooden stake, smeared with poison. The mouth of the pit is then covered over with branches, and earth is thrown on top ; the whole made to look as much like solid ground as possible. This scheme appears to be very simple, but it reality it is not. The elephant is wonderfully clever at detecting false ground, and if it suspects there is anything wrong it immediately stops and carefully feels around on all sides. If it finds a pit it drags the entire covering off, so that all of its fellows are warned. ”

“ A lion will creep up to within five yards of a zebra, while a man would not get within half a mile, for the zebra is one of the most cautious of creatures. A lion will steal into a camp and strike a man down before he finds out that he is in danger. As we have said before a caged lion gives no idea of the strength, grace and beauty of the king of beasts when at home in the desert. ”

“ The village folk dared move from place to place only in strongly armed parties. It is well known that a tiger will seldom attack a band of people unless it is very hungry and there are no men in the party. The situation was becoming desperate. The Judge sent for the Colonel of a neighboring regiment who was an experienced tiger hunter, to advise him. The two consulted as to the best method of destroying the man-eater, for the week's events showed that it was a more than ordinarily clever brute. ”

“ An old tame bull elephant, trained for the work, is turned loose in the jungle, and it promptly goes off to find a herd of its wild brothers. What yarn it tells them is not known, but it is not long before the foolish creatures follow the old bull. ”

“ The elephant has a very tender skin, for so large an animal, and unless it is properly harnessed it will get "back-sore" in no time. Flies and mosquitoes cause it much worry too, and this leads the elephant to put wet mud on its back as protection. Above all things the elephant loves water, and it is a wonderful sight to see a large number in together. ”

“ Every traveler who has visited any country where these great creatures live comes back well stocked with stories illustrating the beauty, strength, cunning and ferocity of the tiger. Whole books have been written giving descriptions of the royal brute. ”

“ When a tiger pest appears near a village all energies are turned towards encompassing its destruction, for neither man nor beast is safe where it lives.
On one occasion a splendid tiger was seen lurking near a cattle compound, and the authorities forthwith pronounced its doom. The village huntsman was detailed to the work and in a few days he rid the place of the brute and in a most ingenuous manner. He found a path in the jungle which he knew the tiger used on its way to drink, and he laid a trap for it. ”

“ Men scouts are on watch and soon report that the elephant herd has been sighted. Once the head of the herd enters the wide part of the V the trappers know that they have the game all but safe. Men are concealed the entire length of the stockade, on the lookout for accidents or any attempt to turn back. If by any chance the heard wavers, it is scared on from behind the drums and horns and fireworks. Finally the old bull leads the herd through the narrow part of the V into the enclosure. ”