A PATHETIC INCIDENT 



purpose, and for many days after H - felt his loss most 

 keenly. The horse, too, seemed equally distressed, showing 

 his grief as plainly in his own way. 



Some months after this event a friend from a neighbour- 

 ing factory came over for a day's " pig- sticking," and being 

 anxious to test the merits of Mustapha, it was agreed 

 that he should ride him that day. The next morning, 

 accompanied by some coolies and the dogs, they tried a 

 jungle near the bungalow, and no sooner had the beaters 

 entered it than an enormous boar broke nearest to the 

 visitor. Giving it time to get well into the open, he let 

 Mustapha go. Then, with a loud " tally-ho," started 

 in pursuit, H - following for all that he was worth ; but 

 his mount was no match for his Arab. 



The boar at first seemed ignorant that he was the object 

 of pursuit, till the thud of hoofs coming nearer, apprised 

 him of the fact, when, disdaining to run further, he suddenly 

 pulled up, and turning quickly round, charged down upon 

 the horse. The latter, as eager for the encounter, quickened 

 its already racing speed, and soon the two were within ten 

 paces of each other. The spear was already poised, and 

 a moment later would have been delivered, when suddenly 

 both horse and pig stopped dead. 



Face to face, with scarce a yard between them, they 

 stood as if rooted to the spot. In vain its rider urged 

 Mustapha on. He would not move a step, while the 

 boar, too, seemed as unwilling to advance. Again the rider 

 urged his horse, but still the beast refused. At length, in 

 desperation, he dug the spurs into its sides. The horse, 

 which had never felt the spurs before, now bounded 

 forward, and in one mad plunge landed beside the boar. 

 Still the latter did not stir, but, as if wondering at its 

 action, stood gazing at the horse. The next moment the 

 spear, raised for an instant, descended like a flash, piercing 

 between the shoulders of the boar. It was a well- delivered 

 blow, practically instantaneous in effect, for the stricken 

 beast rolled over and lay motionless on its side. 



To H , looking on, the conduct of his Arab seemed 



strange and unintelligible, for never before in such en- 

 counters had it displayed any timidity. However, urging 

 his horse on faster, he soon arrived upon the scene, and 



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