280 CHANNEL ISLANDS OF CALIFORNIA 



woujl ran down the trail followed by several others. Putting 

 spurs to the horses the men followed, when suddenly from out 

 of the brush came a big boar that apparently did not propose 

 to run. It was an easy pot shot, but the men determined 

 to give it a chance for its hfe and moved on, while Manuel 

 pushed into the brush to get in behind the boar. 



"The boar seemed to drop out of sight, for when they reached 

 the spot it was no longer there, nor could Manuel see it from 

 the slope of the canon. Suddenly came the wouf, wouf! as 

 starthng as the rattle of a snake, and again out of the brush 

 charged the boar, with crest standing and ugly muzzle elevated. 

 The horses broke and reared, frantic at the sight, but the riders 

 managed to hold them. Then for some reason, unexplainable 

 except for the intensity of Manuel's yell, the boar kept on and 

 the hunters gave chase. It was a fine exhibition of speed to 

 see this big, heavy pig run. The horses going at full speed 

 were not able to reach it. 



"'We have no use for this fellow,' cried one of the pursuers; 

 'try your rope on him, Manuel.' 



*'So Manuel, delighted at the opportunity, pulled ahead, 

 unswung his lariat, and presently had it whirhng about his 

 head in a thoroughly graceful manner. At the psychological 

 moment he let go and, in a way miraculous to the layman, 

 caught the flying boar by the hind foot. The bronco settled 

 back, throwing the animal cleverly. 



"The boar filled the air with cries and maddened squeals, 

 then quickly charged back along the line. Manuel was equal 

 to the occasion. The canon was narrow, there was no field for 

 play, and he had no companion to rope the boar from the oppo- 

 site side and hold it, as he had often done with bears in the 

 old days; so he did the next best thing — twisted the rope 

 around a tree and thus held the boar. It presented a savage 

 spectacle. Its jaws were dripping with foam, its small, 

 black, beadlike eyes gleaming with rage and fear. 



'"Cleverly done!' cried the Englishman. 



"After they had examined the old fellow, Manuel as 

 cleverly released the boar, and with all the fight taken out 

 of it the animal trotted off into the brush without even looking 

 behind." 



