VII 



THE MEERUT TENT CLUB 99 



As we go we see the centre watching a light boar 

 break. They give him law enough, and then ride. 

 Three good men, and three of the best horses at 

 the meet, the result of an argument the previous 

 evening. As pretty a sight as you may wish to see 

 as they fly past us. 



They come with the roar of the sullen surf 



On the bar of a storm-girt bay. 

 Like muffled drums on the sounding turf 



Their hoof-beats echo away. 



No hunt can last at this pace. The pig swerves 

 slightly to the left where C and Ugly are to the 

 front, as ever. They seize their opportunity, and 

 the run is soon over. 



While we change our horses on the knoll we see 

 two more boar run almost straight into the arms 

 of the same heat as they return. Two spears tackle 

 one pig, the third the other. The former is soon 

 accounted for, but the latter is a master of tactics. 

 Whenever his pursuer gets within spearing distance 

 he throws himself on his side out of reach of the spear, 

 picks himself up at once, and darts off at an angle 

 under the horse's tail as he goes by. Three times 

 this happens before they disappear into the grass. 

 Later a single figure appears, telling the tale of a 

 disconsolate rider and a deservedly successful pig. 



The far heat seemed to be riding, but we have 

 no time to watch, for our luck is still in, and we have 

 two more runs in rapid succession. The first calls for 

 no remark. In the second hunt we are after a fine 

 pig of 32 or 33 inches, the master boar. Instead of 

 crossing the nullah he sneaks out towards the up- 

 lands on our left. We have to give him law, or he 

 would break back ; and a heavy boar like this will 



