THE STILL HUNT. 83 



in this neighbourhood in previous years, and their offspring, 

 increasing with great prolificness, had become as savage as the 

 boars of the Black Forest. 



Before I had recovered my composure, another hog and a sow 

 came rushing past, grunting and tearing along, followed by a whole 

 herd of young, that thrashed down the grass, and jammed past me 

 in their haste ; as the last one came, I lost all patience, and fired. 

 The crowd was too thick to miss, and I had the satisfaction of 

 seeing one tumble over on its back. But my satisfaction was 

 short-lived when there swept by me a beautiful deer on a long 

 lope, and running as if playing with its pursuer. He came so near 

 me I could almost have hit him with my gun, and did not see me 

 until directly abreast ; he then rushed onward with a terrified 

 leap, and was immediately lost to view. At this instant I heard 

 Mike fire a shot, but could not see what he had killed. 



When the dog came in, which he did in a moment, on the trail 

 of the deer that had passed me, he seemed much worried, and laid 

 down close at my feet and refused to go out again. I could not 

 account for his behaviour, but, not seeing any more deer on the 

 meadow, I took him by the ear and walked around to where Mike 

 had taken his stand, and where he was busy taking off the skins of 

 the two deer he had shot. 



" What did you shoot at ? " he inquired, as I came up. 



" A young hog ! " and then I told him how the drove had 

 rushed upon me, led by the vicious old boar, until in desperation 

 I had made bacon of one, and so lost my chance at the deer. 



" Some takes kindly to pork," replied Mike, " and when hard 

 up I can worry down a leetle roast pig myself — but I don't keer 

 fur 'em for steady fodder. Howsumever, they like 'em at the 

 house." 



So taking up the two saddles of venison, we hung them in the 

 woods by the side of the other, and went down to get my porker, 

 but, alas ! like the old lady in the nursery rhymes, when I came 

 back my porker was gone. 



" I am sure he was dead," I replied to Mike's quizzical smile. 

 " He lay there at that spot, and I had my feet on him while I 

 loaded my rifle. There 's the blood on the grass now." 



