190 THE WILD HOG. 



half in thickness), and quick as thought the hog had 

 upset the pony, and cut him open from chest to thigh. 

 Then suddenly turning upon Purvis, he would most 

 likely have killed him, had not Grreen perceived his 

 comrade's danger, and stopped the boar with a bullet 

 in his brain. 



At this moment one of the party broke the back of 

 a half-grown pig, and its squeals soon gathered its 

 fellows to its assistance, when they ' rallied ' around 

 it, their heads fronting outwards, and their gleaming 

 tusks clashing together as they churned the froth 

 which flecked their breasts and shoulders. 



Eiding round them, we brought our rifles and pistols 

 to bear upon their foreheads, and one after another 

 they were killed. Although this may appear a sense- 

 less slaughter, it was in reality a most useful one to 

 the in-coming occupant of the land ; for had these, or 

 any of these, wild pigs been left, they would have 

 enticed away the tame stock about to be introduced ; 

 but having cleared these useless beasts away, a little 

 attention only was necessary to control their successors 

 and keep them tame. 



