144 WILD MEN AND WILD BEASTS. 



He had lost his hunting-cap, and his spear was buried in the 

 grimy slush. I reached the bank in safety, and gathering up 

 my galloway I went on after the boar. From his great size 

 and weight I was sure he would make a good fight, and I saw 

 I had work cut out for me, so I determined not to irritate 

 him with a minor poke, but, if possible, to disable or check 

 him till such time as my friend should emerge from the mud 

 and come to my assistance. As the boar went along at an 

 easy canter, I saw I should have no difficulty in overhauling 

 him. We were going up the side of a field, having a high 

 mud-bank on our right ; and watching my opportunity I 

 lowered my spear and pressed my horse with the spur. In 

 an instant I was alongside of the boar, and had my spear 

 within a few inches of his shoulder, when, with a savage 

 grunt, he made a sidelong charge at my horse. The spear 

 took him in the neck and checked him, but with a sudden 

 wrench he broke the bamboo shaft, leaving the head im- 

 bedded in his muscles. Turning my horse sharp to the left, 

 I got clear away, but having only the headless spear-shaft in 

 my hand, my offensive powers were at an end, and I saw that 

 my only hope of getting the boar lay in being able to keep 

 him in view till my friend should rejoin me. In this way we 

 held on over many fields. At times I pursued and tried to 

 turn the boar, at others he pursued me, and then I was forced 

 to " advance backwards." Still no signs of my friend, and I 

 began to fear that either he or his horse had been seriously 

 damaged. The boar had nearly reached the spot from whence 

 we had first started him in the morning, and as he went 

 down the steep bank into the cypress cover I pulled up in 

 despair. At that moment I saw Bulkley coming along at a 

 hand-gallop, and with a frantic yell I again set off after the 

 boar. Aided by Bulkley, I succeeded in turning him towards 



