Page:Hunting and trapping stories; a book for boys (IA huntingtrappings00pric).pdf/57

 easy to see that they were wild with terror, not knowing what instant they might be shot too. However, the hunter did not fire at them.

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. The giraffe seemed to stumble and fall to its knees, and the leopard was flung clear over its victim's head. The hunter in thinking the matter over afterwards decided that the giraffe had stumbled deliberately, hoping thereby to shake its enemy off.

The leopard is too small an animal to be always successful in attacking such large game as a giraffe, and while its claws are very sharp and powerful they may not hit a vital spot.

Without doubt the worst enemy of the giraffe is the lion. The defense of the giraffe is not of much avail against the weight, strength and claws of such a beast. Moreover, the lion is after all a coward and likes to tackle the easiest prey. The giraffe is a large creature and furnishes the lion with spring squarely on to a giraffe's back it is very liable to be kicked off. Tigers and lions always roar when they spring, hoping thereby to paralyze their victims with fright. A leopard, on the other hand, springs silently, which makes it more to be feared.

A hunter tells of seeing a full grown lion stalk a bull giraffe. The lion was careful to keep down wind from the giraffe, and as it crept closer it seemed to be just a shadow on the ground. The giraffe walked forward some hundred yards or more until a bush was between itself and the lion. This was the latter's opportunity, for it crept up within springing distance without being seen. The lion crouched, its muscles standing out, drawn tight with the tension, waiting its chance. Suddenly it sprang with a roar and gripped its victim close to the neck. The giraffe started off at a gallop but it was of no avail, for the lion had a firm hold and its powerful claws sank in deeper and deeper until from exhaustion caused by loss of blood the giraffe stumbled on its knees and fell over dead. The lion sprang lightly aside and stood looking at its handiwork.