212 WOLF-HUNTING. 



with a view to covering the retreat of the flying herd ; but the 

 moment he is pressed by the pursuing hounds, he wheels' round, 

 and, backed up by the others, fiercely confronts the whole pack. 

 Now, however, the assault on their stronghold had been so 

 sudden, the cry of hounds, the blast of horns, and the echoes so 

 bewildering, that leaders and all seemed equally panic-stricken, 

 and only eager to make themselves scarce with all possible 

 despatch. 



Downwards and straight for the stream poured the seven 

 pigs, as if kicked by so many demons ; while ten couple of 

 hounds, roaring in their rear, drove them in the wildest confusion 

 on the very guns of the enemy. Instantly a terrible fire opened 

 upon them, and two, falling mortally wounded on the edge of the 

 clitter, were soon despatched by fresh hands joining in the fray ; 

 four ran the gauntlet, passing unscathed by a dozen peasants, and 

 escaping at top speed into the woods below ; while the seventh, 

 apparently the biggest pig of the lot, and evidently a boar, not 

 relishing the cannonade in front, turned short back in the very 

 face of the hounds. 



Keryfan and I were standing about ten yards below St. Prix ; 

 and hearing him mutter a deep imprecation on the peasants' 

 heads, to whose over-eagerness this mischief was alone attribut- 

 able, I looked up and saw his lips compressed, and every muscle 

 of his face quivering with alarm. " That's exactly what I feared 

 would happen," he exclaimed aloud; "and now there'll be wild 

 work among the hounds before that boar attempts to break 

 again." 



When the boar faced about, he paused for a moment as if 

 uncertain what course next to pursue whether to stand at bay, 

 and meet all comers on that rugged battle-ground, or charge at 

 once through the pack, now rapidly advancing, and seek refuge in 

 the iorest by a lateral track, the only egress now available, the 



