CHAPTER LXXIII. 



A FLYING SHOT OR TWO. 



THE hunters picked their way at their leisure through the jungle. Keeping 

 to the path which they had struck while following the herd of elephants, the 

 walking was found quite easy and pleasant. 



You need not be told that, though the friends were conversing with the careless- 

 ness they would have shown had they been grouped in one of the native huts, they 

 keep their eyes and ears wide open. There could be no doubt that the trail was 

 used by many animals in going to and from the pool in which the herd of elephants 

 had disported themselves, and the hunters, therefore, were liable to encounter some 

 of them. 



Mr. Godkin was walking a few paces in front of the youth, who left to him the 

 principal duty of looking out for danger in that direction, while he occasionally 

 cast a furtive glance over his own shoulder to make sure that no enemy stole upon 

 him unawares. 



Sure enough, they had walked but a short distance when the leader suddenly 

 halted with the exclamation: 



" Something is coming ! " 



Both sprang aside and held their guns ready for instant use, for the chances 

 were that a fight impended. The next moment, however, a half-suppressed excla- 

 mation of amazement escaped both, as they recognized an enormous wild boar. 



He was not trotting, but walking along the trail from the direction of the plain, 

 and no doubt was on his way to the pool of water beyond our friends. Having 

 made a good dinner, he probably wanted a drink, after which he would take a 

 siesta, as many animals are accustomed to do in that warm country. 



Mr. Godkin and Dick were standing only a pace or two from the path, and the 

 boar must have seen them, though nothing in his manner betrayed it, since he did 

 not retreat nor change his pace. 



" If he attacks, we will each give him a shot," said the elder, " but, since we 

 spared the elephants, we will do the same with him, provided he behaves himself." 



" I am willing," replied Dick, who nevertheless felt some misgiving, as he re- 

 called the vigorous style in which the animal in Africa had handled Pongo and his 

 pony. I am confident you have not forgotten the stirring experience of the Bushman 

 with the wild boar which he encountered with Mr. Godkin along the edge of the 

 South African jungle. Dick had seen nothing of that affray, but he had been inter- 

 ested in the account, and had expressed his regrets so often that he had not been thus 

 favored that the director promised to secure him a taste of what may truly be 

 called royal sport. 



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