244 NUMBER OF SPEARS NECESSARY. 



escape, than to run the risk of being made a 

 cripple. 



Every hunter should take with him at least 

 four spears ; one he should always carry himself, 

 and the other three should be distributed among 

 his most active servants; if any one of them 

 should be mounted, he will be of infinite service by 

 carrying one of the spears. I shall here give a cau- 

 tion to all young hog hunters, that it is dangerous 

 ever to allow servants to give them spears from 

 horses' backs ; they should always stick them into 

 the ground where they may be readily laid hold of. 

 I have known many serious accidents happen from 

 spears being given by people on horseback when 

 the horses were heated, full of spirit, and im- 

 patient to follow a chase, (they are often more 

 anxious for the sport than their riders,) and it may 

 happen from the hog's charging at the time. 



I have had three spears rendered useless in the 

 pursuit of one hog ; sometimes their points are 

 broken off, or bent in the ground, or by being 

 thrown against bones ; at other times the shafts 

 are broken by the hog's running with them into 

 cover. I have sometimes seen them pull them 



