88 DAYS AND NIGHTS BY THE DESERT. 



him, and I after them ; not an instant too soon, 

 either, for there were the swine, seven in number, 

 following one another at their best pace. The 

 leader of the string was a slab-sided old sow ; five 

 youngsters about half-grown came after ; while pater- 

 familias, a- sturdy, irascible old gentleman, ever 

 casting a glance behind him, brought up the rear, 

 and within fifty yards of his stern was my much- 

 valued . hound. Visions of a disembowelled dog 

 floated before me, and that dog the favourite of all 

 my pack, but, as I could not alter circumstances, I 

 had to endure them ; so, rising in my stirrups, and 

 giving a yell like a lunatic Comanche, I put the 

 mare , at her best pace and made for the veteran 

 boar. He being the last,, I thought, of course, 

 Arrack would devote his attention to him ; but in 

 this I was much mistaken, the dog preferred young 

 pork to old, or an easy victory to a hard-fought 

 battle, so singled out a squeaker. With much satis- 

 faction I recognized his sagacity. 



By this time I was only a few strides from my 

 intended victim, my mount going well within herself, 

 and evidently willing to take me alongside the game, 

 so I called upon her for a little more speed, which 

 she responded to ; the result of which was nearly to 

 bring me within striking distance of the boar, and 

 to turn him off at right angles from the course his 

 wife and children had pursued. 



At this moment I heard a most unearthly 



