108 REMINISCENCES OF MG-STICKlNG. 



cup, is by itself worth a good day's outing. Mea culpa 

 sed a maxima causa. 



By two o'clock we were remounted and ready to 

 renew the fray. An extensive piece of aeree was the first 

 place we made for and had not long to wait when the 

 shouting and yelling of soor ! soor ! told us pigs were 

 on the move* On riding round the cover we were just 

 in time to see a regular sounder going in the next 

 patch of aeree. For an hour or so after this we did 

 nothing, but ride backward and forward, the pigs evi- 

 dently seeing us in the open not caring to break, and 

 we were ourselves getting tired of this game when an 

 old boar, more knowing then the rest, thought it time 

 to clear out, and quietly sneaking out at the furthest 

 corner, nearly succeeded in getting across the river. It 

 was a regular touch-and-go. Hills on a very fast waler> 

 Odd Trick, just managing to spear the pig when within 

 a few yards of the river. After being speared piggy 

 gave up all idea of crossing, and turning round got 

 behind Hills, whom he chased for a considerable dis- 

 tance, and he stuck so close behind that Archie could 

 not wheel round, and when he did so the boar met him 

 half-way, there was a crash, and the spear shaft was 

 splintered. Leaving Hills the boar next made for John- 

 stone, who got in a very killing spear, poor piggy just 

 managing to reach the water where he drowned himself. 

 Though not a monster as regards size, this was a real, 

 good, fighting boar and measured 32''; some more beat- 

 ing of crops produced a very fair-sized pig, but who 



