112 THE OUT-STATION; OR, 



shoulder to the flank as if it had been done by a 

 scythe. 



The others springing simultaneously upon him, 

 revenged the death of their comrade, although each 

 dog was more or less lacerated. 



The best plan, when going in pursuit of this ani- 

 mal, is to arm oneself with a pair of holster pistols, 

 as they are just as likely to attack their human pur- 

 suer, as they are their canine enemies ; besides which, 

 when the dogs have brought the hog-deer to bay, it is 

 much the more economical plan to put a ball through 

 his head at once than to have a hospital full of 

 wounded hounds to look after for the next month. 



In this latter case there may be also a chance of 

 saving the carcase of the animal for table, a proceed- 

 ing I never saw accomplished yet for the hounds, 

 having once brought their quarry to the ground, never 

 leave it while there is an ounce of flesh on its bones, 

 from which circumstance I have no doubt that it pos- 

 sesses a peculiar delicacy, and I have frequently looked 

 on in speechless grief at the demolition of the haunches 

 by the dogs, knowing at the same time, that to inter- 

 fere with their enjoyment of the repast, would in all 

 probability be to subject myself to the same unsatis- 

 factory process of becoming invisible. 



