A FLYING SHOT OR TWO. 41 1 



" Don't aim at his hind leg this time ! " shouted Mr. Godkin, " for he can go on 

 three legs as well as four." 



Dick made no answer, for he could think of none that promised to hush his 

 friend : it was enough to attend to the game that was likely to escape him before 

 he could be checked. 



Despite all the pony was able to do, it was not until the boar was on the farther 

 edge of the plain that Dick felt himself close enough to risk another attempt to 

 bring him down. The intervening space was only a trifle less than before, when 

 he leveled his rifle and fired his second shot. 



To his mortification the pony at that instant half stumbled over some obstruc- 

 tion in his path, so disturbing the aim of the rider that he knew, without looking, 

 he had missed entirely. 



41 Well done ! " called his tormentor, whose laugh rang across the plain ; " that 

 shot didn't go more than ten feet above his head. Can't we manage to get the fel- 

 low to stand still a minute while you poke the muzzle into his ear ? " 



" It's too late now," replied Dick, checking his horse, as he saw that the boar 

 was close to the end of the plain ; " your gun is loaded ; suppose you show me how 

 to do it" 



Dick was looking at Mr. Godkin, who instantly began making excited gestures. 



" It isn't too late either 1 " he called. " Load quick ! you've got a better chance 

 now than ever." 



Dick turned, and saw to his amazement that the boar, instead of taking refuge 

 in the jungle, had turned squarely about and was returning over the same route he 

 had just followed. 



But the boy's gun was unloaded and his horse had come to a full halt. He 

 could do nothing until a new cartridge was in place, and he set about repairing his 

 forgetfulness. 



This compelled him to withdraw his attention for the moment from the animal. 

 Short as was the time required to recharge his weapon, he had not yet finished 

 doing so when Mr. Godkin, who was riding toward him, called: 



" Look out I the boar is coming for you ! " 



The lad glanced up and saw that his friend spoke the truth. The boar had 

 wheeled about, not with the purpose of keeping up his flight, but to punish the 

 parties who had presumed to molest him while peacefully groping for dinner. 



Running along the side of the jungle until opposite the point where Dick had 

 halted, he turned sharply to the right, and, with his head lowered, charged upon 

 the horseman at full speed, coming with such a hurricane rush that he was upon 

 the terrified pony before the latter could gather himself for flight 



