1 9 o THE HUNTER'S ARCADIA. 



from his pigmy eyes, but not too quick for the native 

 to deliver his weapon, turn on his heel, and spring 

 out of the way. The impetus of the boar carried him 

 at least twenty yards before he pulled up ; and this 

 halt, I am disposed to think, was forced upon him 

 through the shaft of the assegai catching on the 

 ground, and thus driving the head of the spear 

 farther into his carcase. Poor wretch, it was easy to 

 see that his days were numbered, but, game to the 

 last, he turned his head and bit off the stem of the 

 cruel blade close to his now heaving side. That 

 movement was his death-warrant ; every one of his 

 destroyers in an instant drew round him, and neither 

 knowing where to fly, nor whom to attack first, the 

 gallant beast fell, pierced by nearly a dozen weapons. 

 Of course, both my friend and myself had abun- 

 dant opportunities in which to have used our rifles ; 

 but to see a wild boar speared on foot is not a sight 

 to be witnessed by a white man every day. So we 

 desisted, and right manfully and skilfully did his 

 attackers perform their work. No doubt many will 

 say, who chance to read this, had not the boar been 

 wounded, such a successful issue would not have been 

 obtained. In this I cannot agree, for the quarry came 



