138 KEMINISCENCES OF PIG-STICKIHG. 



instead of swimming across and getting away, they pre- 

 fer either to break back in the Null or make for the 

 nearest village jungle. On the west there is a big 

 open maidan (plain) where once out piggy's fate is 

 sealed, but on the north and south the villages are un- 

 comfortably near and the runs very short — short runs, 

 that have seen many a gallant ride by some of the elite 

 of pig-stickers, including a few of those well-remem- 

 bered dashing aides-de-camp ! ! 



Before concluding my description of the Modoopore 

 Null, I may as well mention that it was here that poor 

 Colonel James was killed on Christmas Day, 1874. 



He died as he would have wished to die, 



In the height of glorious charge, 

 A noble foe in front, behind 



A " field " select not large, 

 Nor let the bravest meanly think 



Of the charge that laid him low : 

 For the noblest sport is hunting, 



And the boar the noblest foe ! 



As I said before, the Modoopore Null was hunted, 

 as arule, during Easter ; but, on the present occasion, 

 the meet was unavoidably postponed till the 6th April, 

 1877. Early on the morning of that day the follow- 

 ing found themselves at the covert-side eager for the 

 beat to commence, viz. — Lord William Beresford, Old 

 Angelo, Captain Fife, P. Richards, M. Ferguson, 

 R. Simpson, E. Gibson, our worthy host, Archie Hills, 

 and the humble author. Our beating line for the day 



