HOG-HUNTING 169 



man behind is now on the pig, and wheeling- a 

 litde so as to get him on the off side (never 

 spear, except in extreme cases, on the near 

 side), and is pursuing him close, closer, till he 

 can see the little wicked eye and the gleam of 

 the tushes. Then a change. With a sharp 

 " oof-oof," round comes the pig and charges. 

 Now keep the spear low, if a long one, for 

 most pigs jump up as they deliver their attack, 

 and, above all things, keep the spear steady. 

 If you dig the least bit you will most likely 

 miss him. The pig hurls himself on the spear, 

 and at the pace you are going the sharp blade 

 pierces the hide like a knife going into a pat of 

 butter ; yet if you try to spear a boar when you 

 are both stationary it will take you all your 

 strength to force the spear through his tough 

 hide. " Oof-oof," and he turns off Perhaps 

 you break the spear in him ; possibly it is 

 wrenched out of your hand, and remains 

 noddino- and bendino- ; a dano-er to those who 

 come after you, for the wounded pig will now 

 probably 'die charging. He may, of course, 

 decline the fight, and die sulkily ; but in, 

 say, seven cases out of ten he will charge 

 the next man, and mean business. Though 

 mounted on a slower horse, the man who 

 now has pig in hand is a veteran pig-sticker ; 

 and if he is using a short spear it smashes 



