246 HUNTTNO ADVENTURES. 



On the following day I hunted to the northeast of .my camp, and 

 made a fine shot at a blesbok, knocking him over at a hundred 

 and fifty yards. Returning to camp in a low-lying grassy vley, I 

 started a herd of " vlacke varcke," or wild hogs. The herd con- 

 sisted of seven half-grown young ones and three old ones, one of 

 which carried a pair of enormous tusks, projecting eight or nine 

 inches beyond his lip. Being well mounted and the ground favor- 

 able, I at once gave chase, and was soon at their heels. My horse 

 was " The Gray." I selected the old boar for my prey, and 

 immediately separated him from his comrades. After two miles 

 of sharp galloping, we commenced ascending a considerable 

 acclivity, when I managed to close with him, and succeeded in 

 turning his head toward my camp. He now reduced his pace to 

 a trot, and regarded me with a most malicious eye, his mouth a 

 mass of foam. He was entirely in my power, as I had only to 

 spring from my horse and bowl him over. I felt certain of him, 

 but resolved not to shoot as long as his course lay in the direction 

 of the wagons. At length, surprised at the resolute manner in 

 which he held for my camp, I headed him ; when, to my astonish- 

 ment, he did not in the slightest swerve from his course, but 

 trotted along behind my horse like a dog following me. This at 

 once roused my suspicions, and I felt certain that the cunning old 

 fellow was making for some retreat, so 1 resolved to dismount and 

 finish him. Just, however, as I had come to this resolution, I 

 suddenly found myself in a labyrinth of enormous holes, the bur- 

 rows of the ant-bear. In front of one of these the wild boar 

 pulled up, and, charging stern foremost into it, disappeared from 

 my disappointed eyes, and I saw him no more. I rode home fni 

 my men ; and returning, we collected grass and bushes, and to* 

 dw"ored to smoke him out, but without success. 



