HISTORY AND COUNTRY 17 



seasons he has only given me one fall. This was 

 three years ago. We were hot foot on a pig, and 

 jumped into a clump of grass which turned out to 

 be a blind well partly filled up. We were both 

 somewhat perturbed, but I got right quickly enough, 

 and found old Pioneer on the top of me still un- 

 conscious. I was fit bar some ribs and tongue, but 

 Pioneer was well shaken, and it was some months 

 before he was himself again. 



Well, we were hunting in these bourrh lands and 

 a boar was reported ahead of the line, so Pioneer 

 and I went forward and stood watching on a little 

 mound. Presently we saw a great heavy boar stalk 

 quietly out and stand in a little open glade with 

 grass all round. His slow, lordly walk reminded 

 me of a tiger. There was no need to touch the little 

 horse ; we crept up on tiptoe, and then, with a 

 bound, we were on him before he knew what was 

 happening. I ought to have used the spear over- 

 hand, but instead I made a mess of it, and speared 

 him underhand too far forward. The boar was 

 into us at once. I would not let go the spear, nor 

 could I keep him off my girths, so I had to flee. 

 The boar swung round behind me and tried to work 

 up the spear as I leant back and round keeping 

 him off Pioneer's hocks. We must have gone like 

 this for a hundred yards. The boar got so close 

 in that I feared he would rip the old horse badly, 

 so I had to drop the spear and ride for it. It was 

 then my turn to pursue without a spear. Others 

 came up, and this fine hog was killed fighting 

 desperately. He measured 33 1 inches. 



Last winter several of us were again hunting 

 these bourrh lands. We got to camp after a long 

 trek by road and rail at about 4 p.m. The winter 



