SPORT OF SORTS WITH THE PRINCE 291 



Only for a second was the gallant beast nonplussed. 

 Breaking back once more, with ferocious impetuosity 

 he thundered through the flimsy cordon, knocking 

 one man over like a ninepin, and cutting another in the 

 leg with a tossing upward rip of the sharp tushes. 

 If a boar gets within striking distance his movements 

 are so quick and dexterous there is very little hope of 

 avoiding the battering onslaught. 



How I admire this animal ! Whenever I find myself 

 pitted against him he seems of all the jungle folk the 

 most magnificent. So courageous, and I love courage, 

 so strong of heart, so nimble of foot, and with hackles 

 up so like a lion. But braver, far, than the King of 

 Beasts. Even in his death agony he is still fearless, 

 and, with head drooping as the rigor overtakes him, 

 often raises himself for a final vengeful effort. 



We could not get a shot in throughout, for the 

 beaters in their ardour invariably arranged themselves 

 strategically right in the line of fire. 



On another occasion Cecily and I, wandering with 

 Ali in the woods, disturbed some swine feeding on 

 roots round a shallow pool. Immediately they got 

 our wind the whole sounder dashed through the water, 

 tails in air, and were off down the green aisles to the 

 shadowy beyond. I hadn't a second to get the sights 

 on any of them ere they vanished, but Cecily was 

 better placed. She fired at the leading boar, whose 

 size marked him out for execution, and got him too, 

 for we heard the thud of the bullet distinctly. 



Then began a search for the wounded pig, a careful 

 one, and as we hunted through the boundless universe. 



