14 SPOUTING ADVENTURES 



Bleaker Island, where we anchored for the 

 night. 



The ship being secured, a large party of sports- 

 men went ashore. Attaching myself to the go- 

 vernor and Captain Packe, we first visited a small 

 lake close to the beach, where we shot at least a 

 dozen ducks in half as many minutes ; we then 

 went in search of wild pigs, as their tracks were 

 plainly to be seen. Packe and I entered some 

 long pampas grass, accompanied by our two 

 dogs, Niger and Turk. The latter soon gave 

 tongue, and bolted into the thick scrub, whither 

 we followed as fast as we could, guided only 

 by the sound, as nothing could be seen at any 

 distance. 



Presently I caught sight of a pig, and fired a 

 snap-shot at it through the rushes. On going 

 to the spot, I found to my horror, not only the 

 pig lying dead, but my poor faithful dog Niger 

 lying near it, killed by the same ball. I never 

 saw the dog when I fired, and can only suppose 

 that the poor beast must have jumped up at the 

 moment, receiving the ball through his head 



