EXCITING WORK. 187 



various game-paths that ran through the bush, we 

 were a long time before we could discover the spoor 

 of our late enemy, and when we did the curs refused 

 to acknowledge it, possibly on account of the dryness 

 of the soil and the heat of the day, which had already 

 become quite overpowering. Nevertheless, the beaters 

 indefatigably continued their search, doubtless seeing 

 in futuram the prospect of grilled pork- chops 

 savoury morsels, I can assure the reader, when 

 cooked over a clear wood fire. The skill of these 

 men in tracking game I have previously noticed as 

 something wonderful, far surpassing Indian red man 

 or Oriental chicaree, and in this instance they afforded 

 us -a specimen of their superlative talent. 



The examination of the surface of the ground, 

 finally led us to the almost dry river-bed ; on its 

 margin was a mud-bank, without water flowing over 

 it, but still damp ; its surface told the tale, as plain 

 as words could speak it or pen write it, viz. that 

 Master Piggy had passed that way. The spoor was 

 irregular in line and of unequal depth, showing but 

 too truly that the poor beast was hard stricken. 

 Following this for a hundred yards, it left the river 

 bed, and here the curs for the first time commenced 



