Well, this will likely sling a skunk into the room, and not saying that Ruark did not exhibit a masterful use of the English language, but what I am suggesting is that he had not earned the right to the use of such language in Horn of the Hunter!
Just keepin' it real, as they say:
Ruark admits that he had never so much as fired a rifle, especially HIS rifles prior to the safari. Abomination!
He has zero grasp of the basics of marksmanship when firing upon his first animals, striking one antelope in the foot! Disrespectful of game.
His choice of a 220 swift is not explained, but he abandons it after seeing dismal results in blowing a ham off a warthog.
He gets talked into immediately going after a lion and "places the shot right behind the ear" a low odds horrible first shot choice, especially given the sloping skull, topped by hair.
He turns down a free leopard! (Should he have been properly prepared to hunt, this alone would constitute a reason to commit him to asylum)
He talks about how incompetent hunters place the PH at risk, while himself embodying said incompetent hunters.
He idol worships his PH as ALL first timers do when they come back as instant experts.
He proceeds to give us all sage advice, written like a thriller, while he is still wet behind the ears, and repeating good advice he's heard/just learned.
He describes armchair bullshit like facing buffalo stampedes by shooting one, then standing on it while the others stream by, really? (does he know just how rare an actual oncoming stampede is--not just the jostling forward to see whats of danger? Or how hard it is to instantly "drop" a buff?)
Entertaining reading, written about others level of experience/expertise which he adopted, as any learner should, but not authoritative. Colorful description of a beautiful land and experience which doubtlessly helped the safari industry then and now by evoking wonder and appreciation.
Still, beginner gushing, all dressed up. Your comments?
