A STRANGE EXPERIENCE. 413 



But they were so far off that they could not possibly arrive in time to do any- 

 thing. To Mr. Godkin it looked as if Dick's chief danger was from the hoofs of 

 the pony, which were flying about in such a frantic way that they were liable to 

 shatter his skull. 



But at the edge of the plain the steed fought himself free and fell to the ground, 

 Dick going with him. The boar paid no further attention to either, but, without 

 increasing or diminishing his speed, trotted into the jungle and vanished. 



While the pony was clambering to his feet, Mr. Godkin hurried up and bent 

 over his young friend who lay still. 



" Are you hurt, Dick ? " he asked, observing that his eyes were open. 



" I'm bruised a little, but I don't think any bones are broken," he replied, rising 

 slowly to his feet with the help of his companion. 



He had dropped his gun and hat, and his clothes presented a sorry appearance; 

 but it was just like the boy, after shaking himself together and finding that he was 

 free from fractured bones, to ask in a quizzical voice: 



"How is the boar?" 



" He seemed to be in the enjoyment of his usual health, when I saw him last." 



The next question, which ought to have preceded the other, was as to how the 

 pony had come out of his rough experience. 



It was evident that he was not too badly injured to climb to his feet. Looking 

 around, Dick and Mr. Godkin saw him skurrying across the plain, hair, mane, 

 bridle and stirrups flying, while he snorted with fright. Surely, if ever a horse was 

 warranted in yielding to panic, the pony was that one. 



But he was heading toward the three natives, running to the help of their 

 masters. Seeing him coming, they spread out over the plain, and, as he was a 

 well-trained steed, he suffered himself to be caught by Jim, who found him so weak 

 and trembling that he could hardly stand. When, however, the native undertook 

 to lead him back to his owner, he refused to move. He had had enough hard 

 handling in that direction to make him anxious to shun the spot forever after. 



So Jim stayed with him, while his companions hurried forward. 



" Well," laughed Mr. Godkin, unspeakably relieved to find that Dick had not 

 been seriously hurt, " what do you think of the wild boar as game to be hunted ? " 



" I know of one specimen that is able to hold his own against mt at least." 



"Yes; and against a half a dozen. I am surprised that he failed to kill your 

 pony." 



" He doesn't seem to have hurt him at all," remarked Dick some minutes later, 

 when they had reached the spot where the trembling beast stood, with Jim holding 

 him. 



" It was his very eagerness to kill him that prevented," remarked Mr. Godkin, 

 attentively examining the steed; " he has scratched him somewhat, and no doubt 

 the pony has been as well shaken up as his master; but the boar drove his head so 

 far forward that he undershot the mark." 



" But he had only to draw back a step or two to cut the poor horse fatally." 



