PAKHAL NADDI OF THE PALM TREES 131 



looming ever nearer, nearer, 

 hears that yell of exultation ! 

 hears that rushing, tearing gallop ! 

 slackens in his lazy lobbing 

 halts ! And never sidewise turning, 

 glints a sudden glittering optic. 



Just too far the kindly Pakhal ! 

 rather far, dear Chandrabhaga ! 

 Grey-boar, swiftly meditating, 

 scarcely he one instant waiting, 

 springs out stoutly once more westward 

 westward for dear Chandrabhaga ! 

 But that deadly instant's pausing 

 brought swift hunters straining nearer, 

 till that grisly back, see-sawing, 

 scarce a spear's length vantage drawing, 

 seems to threaten with its bristling 

 fierce, and truculent see-sawing. 

 So, awhile, the hunted, hunters, 

 straining racing fly on forwards. 

 But the pace too good to last is 



See ! His bounds seem getting shorter, 

 every leap his loins stretch longer ; 

 angry boar, like lightning turning, 

 propping hoofs the light dust spurning, 

 crosses, like some swift torpedo, 

 foaming bows of rushing cruiser 

 Then it was that spear-point harmless 

 sped into the furrow bloodless 

 and the Arab's knees, thud-thudding, 

 'gainst old Grey-boar's side struck thudding. 

 On his side comes Grey-boar angry 

 down goes Arab soars the rider ! 

 turning turtle, mighty toss takes ! 



Lucky he that Grey-boar rising, 

 stubborn, fierce, on plain arising, 

 marks a second foe or truly 

 shared he fate of poor Adonis ! 

 Flying, spurring, closely after, 

 comes the swiftly pounding Waler 



