Game by Hawkeye Author:Richard Hamilton General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1876 Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million book... more »s for free. Excerpt: The mode of proceeding usually adopted for a beat is as follows. (We will limit the number of guns to four.) A few beaters are collected ; also as many dogs as the four sportsmen can contribute. A shikarrie or two, well acquainted with the haunts of the deer, are selected, and lead the way. Arrived at the wood, the posting of the guns next takes place, and this requires a good deal of caution to ensure sport. Few men are aware that a deer in a sholah is as keenly alive to all the movements of his enemies without, as he would be if in the open. If talking takes place, which never ought to be permitted, he hears ! If a man goes up to his post close under the sholah, the deer listens, and knows where he stops. If he goes to windward, his noxious smell betrays his presence ; and sooner than face any of these hidden dangers, many a shot is lost by the deer rushing back through the beaters, and breaking covert at an unguarded spot. Each person taking up his post should accordingly avoid a direct or noisy approach to it. With dogs, however, in full chase, the deer sometimes is forced to break within shot, notwithstanding that he is aware of the presence of his enemy, man. Then comes the moment of excitement ! Now, though I do not admire "beating" in general, I do not despise it, or deny that there is sport in the practice ; but it is and must be comparative, and of the lesser degree. The moment of excitement ! a shout from the beaters proclaims a deer on foot, followed by the hounds giving tongue; a crash through the reeds and bamboos close by sends your heart into your throat; you know not what it may be, s...« less