FOR YOUNG SHOOTERS 53 



who was of the party, that we should endeavour, by 

 some means or other, to bring the two bores, as it 

 were, face to face in a kind of boring-competition 

 in the smoking-room that very night, to engage 

 them in warfare against one another, and ourselves 

 to sit by and watch them mutually extinguishing 

 one another a result that, we were certain, could 

 not fail to be brought about, owing to the deadly 

 nature of the weapons with which each was pro- 

 vided. Both the bores, I may observe, shot 

 execrably during the day. In the evening, after a 

 short preliminary skirmish, from which Shabrack, 

 the Hussar, extricated us with but little loss, that 

 which we desired came to pass. It was a terrible 

 spectacle. In a moment both these magnificent 

 animals, their bristles erect and their tusks 

 flashing fiercely in the lamp-light, were locked in 

 the death-grapple. Every detail of the memorable 

 struggle is indelibly burnt into my brain. Even 

 at this distance of time, I can remember how we 

 all looked on, silent, awestruck, fascinated, as the 

 dreadful fight proceeded to its inevitable close. 

 For the benefit of others, let me attempt to describe 

 it in the appropriate language of the ring. 



