The Chase uf the Wild Boar 291 



doA^Ti the lanes to the centre of the section. Meanwhile the 

 riders stationed at E and D view the boar crossinfj out of 

 section 44 into section 444. The remaining hounds, at D and 

 E, are now slipped and the riders are racing at the top of their 

 speed southwards, cheered on by the riders at G and II, who 

 have viewed the game, leaving section 444 at G going South, — 

 and the chase is on. 



There is little or no jumping, but the riding at times is at 

 a pace httle short of steeplechasing. 



The wild boar runs remarkably straight when once really 

 away, and for the next two or three hours you may have your 

 fill of gall()])ing on and ever on before he comes to bay. 



Instantly he stops, the hounds change their baying to bark- 

 ing. Tliis first halt lasts but a few minutes, the huntsman or 

 INIaster rushes in to see if there are any killed or wounded 

 hounds. If so, some one with a horn is left in charge. The 

 boar having recovered liis "second wind," again rushes away for 

 another twenty minutes or half an hour, halts again and once 

 more proceeds to give battle to his old tormenters, then on 

 again for ten minutes, and another stand. Again he is on 

 foot, but more slowly now. When he halts again it will, in all 

 probability, be his last stand. 



Hounds are baying and barking at his heels as he plods 

 wearily on. Now the riders cheer on the pack "Ilallali ! Ilallali ! 

 Hallah!" The blaster dismounts with short sword in hand and 

 going up amongst the hounds dispatches the boar with a quick 

 thrust, just back of the elbow joint, that pierces his heart. 



The wounded hounds are looked after, needle and thread 

 being used to sew up their wounds, lint and bandages to dress 

 them, and a wagon, that answers for an ambulance, is soon at 

 hand to carrj'^ them to the kennel hospital, where they are as 

 faithfully attended as a person would be, and made much of 

 by every member of the Baron's household. 



The fmieral obsequies are a most ceremonious affair. The 



