HUNTING & SHOOTING IN CEYLON 



cautious approach, which may even need to be a crawl on 

 hands and knees, every sense on the alert to grasp the true 

 position of the " bay " ; but " I can't see five yards ahead, 

 though, thank goodness, I am above the 'bay/ yet whether 

 the hounds are between me and the boar, or he is between 

 me and them, it is impossible to say." 



Any mistake on my part, if the boar is nearest to me, 

 will disclose my presence, and an old hand will know what 

 that means, though the silent waiting is a bit of a strain. 

 It is useless, however, to make any decided move until 

 some clue is grasped as to the actual position of affairs, 

 which may be given by a charge of the pig at the dogs, 

 or by a hound circling out. It is impossible to overlook 

 the thick nilloo, and the tree growth is too impenetrable to 

 afford a view from above, so the only means of gaining 

 information will be as experience advises ; or perhaps the 

 old boar is on my side after all, and will be the first to 

 move, and then look out ! 



Crouching in the undergrowth, listening and watching, 

 with rifle ready for emergencies, I catch sight of a dark 

 but immovable object which I intently watch, but I soon 

 perceive that the " bay " is beyond it, and tumble to the 

 fact that it is a rock, and that the boar is probably at bay 

 beyond with his back to it. A sign to my dog boy, who 

 is near me, and he approaches to hand me the short stab- 

 bing spear in exchange for the rifle; but suddenly the 

 clamour of the hounds ceases for a moment, a few seconds 

 of dead silence, and with a hoarse "whoof ! whoof !" the 

 boar is upon us. 



Where the deuce am I, the boy, dogs, pig, rifle, spear, 

 anybody or anything ? Recovering myself, however, look- 

 ing around, I discover the boy flattened out, a few yards 

 away, knocked out of time, but merely breathless, and a bit 



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