THE SPORTSMAN IN FRANCE. 19 



face about and attack any one after the 

 first rush. I can say that this one was 

 an exception to the rule, for he made a 

 desperate run at Belcher, who sprung at, 

 but missed him. 



I had a bullet still left in one of my 

 barrels, but I must confess I was a little 

 off my guard : the suddenness of the 

 attack in the rear, so wholly unexpected, 

 and the jeopardy my poor dog was in, 

 unnerved me for the moment. I picked 

 up my gun, however, and as the brute 

 was preparing to give Belcher a taste of 

 his terrific tusks, I lodged a bullet under 

 his shoulder. He '' turned about," and 

 '* wheeled about/' and seemed rather 

 astonished, especially when the gallant 

 dog made a spring at his throat ; but at 

 the very same instant the boar ducked 

 his head, and Belcher found himself on 

 the animal's neck and shoulders. 



I trembled for the dog, as I feared he 



