HUNTING ALONE 89 



bold and gallant horse, and the handiest that I have 

 ever ridden. He was afterwards thrown carelessly 

 for a minor operation, and broke his pelvis, to my 

 lasting sorrow. 



We caught the pig just before he reached the 

 palms. I had some difficulty in making Baboo 

 get out of the way. The pig was an evil fellow, 

 though of fair size — 31 inches, I think. I rode along- 

 side inviting his attack, but at first he would not 

 come in. However, I still rode alongside, edging 

 him so far from his point that he at last hardened 

 his heart and came in with a rush. My spear got 

 him fair in the side high up, he cantered on a few 

 yards with the blood pouring from his mouth and 

 nostrils, and then fell over dead without a groan. 



I enjoyed this run much, but felt rather small 

 at being so badly left by Baboo, who had started 

 level with me and crossed by the upper ford. 



Another pig was reported to be still in the bagh, 

 so I beat for him, staying this time on the palm 

 grove side of the stream. The pig broke, crossed 

 the stream, and, taking the big bagh en route, worked 

 his way down a strip of date palms, through some 

 scattered houses to the snipe jheel which runs all 

 along these parts, and which was still wet. Here 

 I killed him. Both the pig and horse were bogged, 

 but the pig felt it most. 



This finished my little meet. 



I will give you a short account of my best day 

 on my trips alone. 



I had to wait till nearly ten o'clock before I could 

 get my coolies. It was the market day in the 

 country town five miles away, and most of the 

 inhabitants of the little hamlets had gone there. 



