A TOUGH CUSTOMER. 25 



Following the old hog-hunting axiom that 

 * where a pig can go, a horse can follow,' I care- 

 fully noted the exact spot, and catching hold of 

 the ' three-cornered one' short by the head, 

 crammed in the spurs, and sent him at it full tilt. 

 He acquitted himself well, for it was a widish 

 place, and we landed on the right side with a 

 peck and a scramble, but no fall ! When he re- 

 covered himself, and I had pulled him together 

 again, I saw the boar standing in the open, evi- 

 dently waiting for me, and the thought upper- 

 most in the porcine mind was apparently, c Won't 

 I just give this young shaver a lesson for disturb- 

 ing a fellow like this, at this time of day too !' I 

 went at him full tilt, when he met me with a 

 gallant charge,'! but the spear sped true, and I 

 rolled him over. This was repeated twice, when 

 he went and lay down under a small bush. 

 Thompson now joined me, his Arab having de- 

 clined the water, and so forced him to make a 

 considerable detour in order to cross the nullah. 



Whilst we were consulting as to what tactics to 

 pursue, the boar trotted out into the open, with 

 the evident intention of renewing the fight ; but 

 on second thoughts he retired under another 

 bush. As he lay here we galloped past in turns, 

 he meeting us in a half charge each time we 

 went by. I speared him twice, but the second 



