Quickness Of Eye Is An Indispensable Quality In Sportsmen, The
Possession Of Which Constitutes One Of Their Little Vanities.
Nothing is so conducive to the perfection of all the senses as
the constant practice in wild and dangerous sports.
The eye and
the ear become habituated to watchfulness, and their powers are
increased in the same proportion as the muscles of the body are
by exercise. Not only is an animal immediately observed, but
anything out of the common among surrounding objects instantly
strikes the attention; the waving of one bough in particular when
all are moving in the breeze; the switching of a deer's ear above
the long grass; the slight rustling of an animal moving in the
jungle. The senses are regularly tuned up, and the limbs are in
the same condition from continual exercise.
There is a peculiar delight, which passes all description, in
feeling thoroughly well-strung, mentally and physically, with a
good rifle in your hand and a trusty gun-bearer behind you with
another, thus stalking quietly through a fine country, on the
look-out for "anything," no matter what. There is a delightful
feeling of calm excitement, if I might so express it, which
nothing but wild sports will give. There is no time when a man
knows himself so thoroughly as when he depends upon himself, and
this forms his excitement. With a thorough confidence in the
rifle and a bright lookout, he stalks noiselessly along the open
glades, picking out the softest places, avoiding the loose stones
or anything that would betray his steps; now piercing the deep
shadows of the jungles, now scanning the distant plains, nor
leaving a nook or hollow unsearched by his vigilant gaze.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 97 of 334
Words from 25750 to 26036
of 89475
