THE WILD BOAR. 95 



The animal was scarcely on the border of the path, before 

 he halted for a much longer time than usual, and then with a 

 grunt he turned round, and fled in a great hurry. At the 

 same instant the sow, followed by the young pigs, galloped 

 across the path, and disappeared in the woods. 



I was seeking in my mind for some explanation of the 

 precipitate flight of the black beasts, when it appeared to me 

 that I heard the sound of a voice on my right, and on the 

 side opposite to Rousselet's position. 



I then recollected that I had heard them say in the camp, 

 after our arrival, that marauders belonging to the unsubdued 

 tribe of Ouled Dann, came almost every night to the foot of 

 the ramparts, to fire on the sentinels on the walls. Now, if 

 my information was correct, we were exactly on the path of 

 these gentlemen, whose conversation was becoming more and 

 more distinct every instant. 



There was not a moment to lose, it was already too late to 

 warn Rousselet without the risk of being seen, and thus 

 endangering the lives of both, if, as I judged from the noise 

 of voices, there were too great a number of these troublesome 

 fellows for us to oppose. Until this moment I had had my 

 back turned to the path, but I wheeled round in order to 

 have them before me, and after having placed my loaded 

 pistol and naked knife in my belt, waited, with my gun to 

 my shoulder, the course of events. 



I had determined on the following plan : 



The path was too narrow for two to walk abreast, and the 

 bournous of the Arabs would brush against the mastic 

 which concealed me, as they passed my retreat; if there 



