326 A BOAR HUNT BY MOONLIGHT 



' Wasil ! ' he cried to the driver of the sledge, ' drive 

 quickly forward ! and let loose the dogs.' And imme- 

 diately eight large dogs sprang to earth. 



Meanwhile Vomhammel had approached to within 

 sixty feet of the boar, then he stopped, took aim, and fired 

 three times in rapid succession, without any shot, how- 

 ever, taking effect. Slowly the monster raised his great 

 broad head at the noise, then at sight of the disturber of 

 his peace he gave vent to a series of grunts, and struck 

 his mighty tusks on the ground. Vomhammel's courage 

 instantly vanished, and, letting fall his revolver, he quickly 

 ran back. ' Here ! here ! ' called Ivan, and with such strides 

 as never were seen, Vomhammel made for the rapidly 

 approaching sledge. But the boar w T as as quick as he, 

 and apparently meant to avenge himself for the insult 

 done him. Lowering his head, he rushed after the flying 

 enemy, ploughing up the snow with his tusks. Soon he 

 was close upon him, and Vomhammel seemed lost, as there 

 was still a considerable distance to cover before he could 

 reach the sledge. Just then a shot rang out, and the boar 

 fell forward. Wultkiewicz had fired a shot at him 

 from a distance of about thirty feet. Immediately the 

 boar was on its feet again, though limping on a fore 

 leg; the short delay, however, had been enough to save 

 poor Vomhammel. As the boar, blinded with rage, hurled 

 itself against the sledge its victim's long body was already 

 safe, only his legs hanging down on the wrong side. 

 A blow from the boar's tusks hitting one of those long 

 lank limbs, ripped up the boot from top to bottom. 

 Ivan, with his powerful left hand, firmly grasped Vom- 

 hammel's body, and thus rescued him from further attack, 

 while with the right he dealt the boar a spear thrust. 

 The dogs also flung themselves on the monster, which 

 was attacking the sledge so furiously that it certainly 

 would have been overturned but for good driving. When 

 at last the remainder of the party appeared on the field 

 of battle, the boar, after a hot struggle, had been com- 



