FIRST SPEAR. 89 



screaming. " Arrack has got one of the youngsters 

 by the ear," I mentally exclaimed, and pushed after 

 my game. Again I made an effort to run alongside 

 the hog ; but, to my surprise, the old scoundrel had 

 been " playing 'possum " all this time, and making a 

 waiting race of it ; for, the instant I was rising in my 

 stirrups to job the beast, he stretched himself out to 

 a gallop that was so fast that well I knew, if he kept 

 it up, it would be more than my mare could do to 

 overhaul him. 



However, the boar was fat, and consequently not 

 in the best of training ; so, after a spurt of a few 

 hundred yards, he commenced moderating his gait. 

 At this time he looked very savage, his wicked 

 pigmy left eye ever and again casting back a vin- 

 dictive glance. This I could see, for I was riding a 

 trifle wide of the quarry. 



Foam now commenced to drop in constant flakes 

 from the boar's mouth, a pretty good indication that 

 the beast was tolerably pumped ; so, getting my 

 mount well in hand, I rushed her at him, and as 

 I shot past, reached over and delivered a severe 

 stab. The thrust was intended for the top of the 

 shoulder-blade ; but, however excellent my intention, 

 I did not succeed in it, but merely inflicted a long 

 and ugly flesh wound in the foe's flank. This 

 thrust, however, had the effect of changing the 

 boar's course for the direction the other members of 

 his family had taken, doubtless with the object of 



