WILD BOAR HUNTING 277 



when Manuel's horse leaped to one side, almost throwing him, 

 when v/ith an ouf, ouf, ouf! hke escaping steam something big, 

 hairy, bristhng, and black dashed past them. 



"'What's that?' cried the Enghshman, coming down into 

 his saddle again from somewhere. 



"'I thought you had stuck pigs in India, senor,' answered 

 Manuel, endeavoring to hold his bronco. 



'"So I have, but— ' 



"'Caramba! Look out!' shouted Manuel, as ouff ouf I 

 sounded from the brush. 'He come again! He hamstring 

 your horse!' 



"It was too late. That cannon ball of bristles came bowling 

 over the back track with a wish! whoof! ouf I ouf! and the bronco 

 went into the air in lateral leaps with which the ordinary 

 tenderfoot is unfamiliar. To their credit be it said, the two 

 hunters were not dismounted. One horse went dashing up the 

 side of the canon, while the two others ran into the open, where 

 they were checked, quivering, one of the animals holding up 

 a hoof in pain. 



"'That was sudden, like the toothache/ remarked the East 

 Indian pig-sticker. 



'"That is the way he is,' said Manuel. 'You see heem?' 

 he cried to the rider up the canon slope. 



"'No, but I can hear growUng and ouf-oufing somewhere. 

 My horse is frightened out of a year's growth, I am going to 

 shoot that brute on sight.' 



'"That's the biggest boar I ever see,' answered Manuel. 

 'He ugly. You see old pig with young in the brush, and when 

 anything comes along he jest drop his head and charge. Tusks 

 like a shark. There he come!' 



"Om/, ouf! came hissing out of the brush. The broncos 

 trembled and whirled, and the hunter on the canon side vainly 

 endeavored to hold his bronco facing the canon so that he 

 could bring his rifle into play. The animal was almost crazed 

 with fear and sprang wildly up the side, a bunch of black hair 

 following for several feet. Then the rider let the horse go, 

 and turning, fired into the brush. The pig was seen crashing 

 down. 



"'Our turn next!' cried Manuel, who had tightened his 



