lo8 DIARY OF A SPORTSMAN NATURALIST 



fear, whilst at least one youngster was crying with sheer 

 funk apparently, so far as I could make out. Then a dog's 

 note made itself heard, followed by a second and a third. 

 They were evidently baying something. I listened, keen 

 excitement holding me. What on earth was it ? Suddenly 

 a chorus of grunts broke the silence. Pig, by the gods. 

 Now the jungle was swishing and rustling in all directions. 

 Nearer the noise approached and a large sounder broke on 

 the ride between myself and the gun to my right. I raised 

 my rifle, remembered and waited. The big old boar will 

 be here, I reflected. The gun above me fired two barrels. 

 Piggies charged to the right and left with enraged grunts, 

 burrowing into the jungle on our side. Others, just emerging 

 from the opposite edge, halted and looked about with their 

 cunning-looking small eyes, doubtful as to what to do. 

 But little as they Uked the front, they liked the rear still 

 less. The yapping was now quite close and I waited, 

 finger on trigger. Closer came the dogs and louder grew 

 the grunts of more of the sounder, now nearing the line. 

 Quite suddenly a sow who was three parts out of the forest 

 opposite and not twenty-five yards from me — I had hidden 

 myself behind a httle barricade of leafy branches — was 

 propelled into the middle of the ride uttering a startled 

 squeaking grunt as she was flung forward. I was on the 

 point of bursting out laughing, she looked so comic, when 

 a dim grey bulk took her place for an instant on the edge of 



the forest and then lum- 

 bered out on to the ride. 

 It was the old boar ! He 

 was a fine sight. Of 

 giant bulk, his bristles 

 grey with age and mouth 

 adorned with a pair of 

 giant tushes, by far the 

 largest I had ever seen. 

 On the ride he turned, 

 his bloodshot eyes glaring red fury, whilst he champed 

 his tushes and grunted. On the instant I understood 

 the position. It was this old boar whom the dogs had 

 been baying and, as the thought flashed through my brain, 

 a dog rushed out of the jungle and commenced dancing 

 round the old boar. I hesitated no longer, but let drive 

 at the shoulder, though I confess with some trepidation. 



