136 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



off. Fearful lest lie should turn back to the covert we let him 

 get well away before starting ; but our horses had seen him 

 break away, and mine was nearly wild with excitement, and 

 danced as if on hot plates. At last we started, riding steadily 

 together, with a strong pull on the bridles. The boar took over a 

 fine open country, with light soil, and ground free from holes or 

 cracks, and we saw that his fate was sealed. By the backward 

 glance of his eye we knew he would do mischief if he could, 

 and his long white tushes warned us to be careful. Letting 

 out my horse a little, I suddenly closed on him, but he swerved, 

 and was getting away, when at that instant Bowles planted 

 his spear between his ribs. On receiving the thrust, he charged 

 across the front of his pursuer, and the shaft of the spear, 

 coming against the horse's chest, was knocked out of his hand, 

 and remained sticking in the boar, who at once pulled up and 

 stood at bay, determined to die game. Bowies' horse would 

 not go near him, and it was in vain that he tried to recover 

 his spear, for the boar always met him with a vicious charge. 

 Watching my opportunity, I put my horse into a gallop, and 

 delivered my spear as I passed. The thrust was a deadly one, 

 and as the boar staggered, Bowles cantered past and succeeded 

 in regaining his spear, and a few more thrusts laid low the 

 boar. This run had taken us to some distance from our shik- 

 arees, who, with the beaters, now came up, and the boar having 

 been hung on a pole was sent off to our tents. Meanwhile, our 

 horses were attended by their respective grooms, the saddle- 

 girths were slacked, and the gallant steeds had their mouths 

 washed out with water while we smoked a quiet pipe under 

 the shade of a mimosa tree. The beaters held an animated 

 discussion over the events of the morning, and the merits of 

 the horses and their riders. We should have returned to the 

 camp after the last run, but we had been informed that a 



