164 MODERN PIG-STICKING 



gets there first, and the old boar, tucking his tail 

 in, redoubles his efforts and shoots ahead. A quick 

 jink round a bush, and he has shaken off his pursuer. 

 Our captain, on his steady old Arab going hard, but 

 with just that little bit to spare, gets on. The boar 

 tries a jink or two, but the old Arab, his ears laid 

 well back, twists with him. Now just that little 

 extra bit. In go the heels (don't have your spurs 

 too sharp) and he is level with the pig. A Central 

 Province boar cannot stand that. A quick, wicked, 

 upward look, and in he comes. The spear goes 

 true, and with luck is wrenched free without 

 breaking. Up comes number three, and of course 

 is charged, but gets in a good spear. Our old boar 

 has still some energy left, and in a final charge 

 receives his death-wound from the youngster, and 

 rolls over with a grunt, game to the last. But 

 perhaps that eager novice could not be restrained, 

 and breaking free from discipline rides his pig too 

 soon, and in spite of the words, " keep inside, 

 keep inside," from the captain. The mischief is 

 done, and we must try and kill the pig before he 

 gets back to the cover he has left. But only one 

 spear can be given before he gets inside that safe 

 retreat followed by two village pi -dogs. We 

 stand looking angrily at the " cause " of all this. 

 The vocabulary flows, and our novice takes it well, 

 but at last he says, " Old chap, I know I am a 



, but I have had all I can stand ; I thought you 



said ' Ride.' " We leave it at that. We dismount 

 and enter the sendhi ban spear in hand, and make 

 towards where we heard the pi-dogs giving tongue. 

 Abreast with spears well advanced and held low 

 we walk up the main nullah. It is very hot. As 

 we round a corner we come on our old boar lying 



