IN PURSUIT OF THE PIGS. 227 



taking my rifle, followed the first disturber of my peace 

 of mind. The fellow was all himself again, and stepped 

 out manfully. In three-quarters of a mile he approached 

 a brow of land. Cautiously he crawled to its summit, 

 then returned, and indicated that he wished me to do 

 the same. I dismounted and followed him. Our stalk 

 was careful and well planned, so I looked over ; and what 

 did I see, but two well-grown, reddish pigs, with tall, 

 straight ears, terminating in tassels ! 



The ground was favourable for riding. Indian an- 

 tipathies to shooting such game arose in my mind, so I 

 resolved to kill them with the spear. I had several in 

 my wagon, weapons made by the best man in England 

 for such productions, so I returned and fetched one. I 

 felt the point and edge of the long laurel-leaf-shaped 

 weapon in all parts it was as keen as a lancet ; thus 

 nothing could be more satisfactory for my first essay in 

 hog-sticking in South Africa. 



Over the brow my attendant and self went. In an 

 instant he squatted in an earth ; but, as the game was 

 alarmed, I left him to his own devices, and rushed off at 

 the best speed of my mount in pursuit. The two pigs 

 kept together, and showed a wonderful amount of 

 capacity for getting over the ground; for, although I 

 applied my spurs unsparingly, I could not get within 

 distance to use my weapon. At first the quarry went 

 out over the velt, then turned and made for where we 

 had first seen them, then they turned abruptly in their 

 course, and rushed to where the Macalaca had taken up 

 his post. " Pigs go to earth in Africa " flashed across me, 

 " and the fellow has become earth-stopper." So I put on 

 a final spurt to blood my lance ; but, just as I supposed 

 I should succeed in doing so, the foremost charged the 

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