A LUCKY THRUST. 189 



The noise of the rapid advance of the natives, the 

 incessant yelping of the curs around the quarry, and 

 not improbably the effect of the wound the beast had 

 received, had made him take shelter in a hollow, under- 

 mined out of the bank by the wash of the stream, in 

 some former flood. The space around the shelter he 

 had selected was clear from undergrowth, but some in- 

 tervening earth which had fallen from the overhanging 

 bank entirely prevented myself or my friend obtaining 

 a shot. The natives shouted to their dogs to en- 

 courage them, but were extremely guarded at first in 

 exposing themselves to a possible attack ; delay, how- 

 ever, appeared to increase their confidence, so, closer 

 and closer they approached the game's hiding-place. 

 At length delay made them reckless, under the im- 

 pression, possibly, that the hog was by this time so 

 stiffened by his wound as to be incapable of becoming 

 the aggressor ; but they had calculated without their 

 host. A powerful young man, whom I had noticed 

 in the morning take a most active part among the 

 beaters, now came to the front, and, assegai in hand, 

 walked directly up to the entrance of the hollow where 

 the pig was supposed to be. Supposed to be ! Phew ! 

 there was no longer supposition, for out he came like 

 a dart, every bristle erect, and vindictive hate flashing 



