ADVENTURES IN CAMP AND JUNGLE. 103 



his pace and prepared for a sidelong rush at the nearest horse, 

 " verris obliquuru meditantis ictum." Watching his oppor- 

 tunity, he suddenly swerved across, but was checked by a 

 clever spear in the shoulder, and in another instant he was 

 rolled over by a cross spear behind the elbow, which finished 

 him. Meanwhile the rest of the field had divided into two 

 parties ; one of which had lost their pig in the nullah, and 

 the other had slain a large sow. She had made a good charge 

 at the finish, and before receiving the coup de grace had nearly 

 bitten through the boot of one of her pursuers. 



About mid-day we adjourned to the tent for refreshment, 

 and by the time we had rested, the Hunt shikaree who had 

 gone off on the track of a small boar which he had seen 

 stealing away in the morning returned, having succeeded in 

 marking him down. His hiding-place was watched on all 

 sides by men perched on trees. We set out at once, and on 

 arriving at the spot a few men were sent into the cover to 

 dislodge him. Some of the field were rather noisy, having 

 taken deep draughts of beer-mug, which had not only cheered 

 but also slightly inebriated. Two of these gentlemen managed 

 to head the pig, and turned him back into cover ; thereby 

 calling forth a well-merited rebuke from the captain of the 

 Hunt. After some trouble, the boar was again driven out, 

 and made for the much-dreaded nullah. The field, however, 

 spread out and divided. One or two horsemen kept on the 

 far side, and on the boar attempting to cross for a distant 

 cover, they had a sharp skurry, and the spear was neatly 

 taken by an officer of the Guzerat Horse. In the course of 

 the afternoon another pig was started, but got away among 

 difficult ground and escaped. While watching a comer of 

 the cover, one sportsman saw two land tortoises crawl out 

 of some thorn bushes, and dismounting, succeeded in capturing 



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