A STRUGGLE FOR LIFE. 809 



received several severe kicks from them. One 

 of tlie pack-horses was fastened upon by the 

 brute, and in the terrified animal's efforts to 

 escape the dreaded gripe, the pack and saddle 

 were broken to pieces and disengaged. One of 

 our mules also lent him a kick in the head, 

 while pursuing it up an adjacent hill, which 

 sent him rolling to the bottom. Here he was 

 finally brought to a stand. The poor animal 

 was so completely surrounded by enemies that 

 he became bewildered. He raised himself upon 

 his hind feet, standing almost erect, his mouth 

 partly open, and from his protruding tongue the 

 blood fell fast in drops. While in this position 

 he received about six more balls, each of which 

 made him reel. At last, as in complete desper- 

 ation, he dashed into the water, and swam sev- 

 eral yards with astonishing strength and agility, 

 the guns cracking at him constantly. But he 

 was not to proceed far. Just then, Eichardson, 

 who had been absent, rode up, and fixing his 

 deadly aim upon him, fired a ball into the back 

 of his head, which killed him instantly. The 

 strength of four men was required to drag the 

 ferocious brute from the water, and upon exam- 

 ining his body he was found completely rid- 

 dled ; there did not appear to be four inches of 

 his shaggy person, from the hips upward, that 

 had not received a ball. There must have been 



