SO A B HUNT. 



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following close at Ins heels. Armed with a fresh spear, I rode up the face of the hill and from 

 thence looking down saw the Boar at bay and surrounded by the Hounds, but in such a situation that 

 it was impossible on horseback to go to the assistance of the Dogs. At this moment one of the 

 beaters came running up with a heavy double-barrelled rifle, and being apprehensive that the 

 ffounds would be speedily slaughtered if not relieved, I took the gun, and dismounting, resolved to 

 attack the Boar on foot. Just as I got to the bottom, I saw the monster Boar with his back to a tree, 

 and the three Dogs looking very cautiously at him. He was about forty yards from me. Directly 

 he saw me, putting his head a little down to take aim, he came straight at me, increasing his pace from 



DOMESTIC SOW AMI) YOUNG. 



the trot to the charge. When about fifteen yards off, he received the first bullet of my rifle in his neck, 

 Taking not the least notice of it, he came on, and the second barrel fired at him, at about five 

 yards, broke his left under jaw-bone at the tusk. Fortunately I brought my rifle down to the charge, 

 and striking it with his head, the Boar sent me over on my back. While running over me he made a 

 glance, and wounded me in the left arm. Had I not put down my rifle-barrel at the moment, most 

 probably his tusks would have been buried in my body. As it was I had two shooting jackets on, it 

 being a very cold morning, and I suffered more from the jar than the wound. As I lay, I seized the 

 end of my rifle-barrel, determined to sell my life as dearly as possible. To my delight, I must say, I 

 saw the Boar knock over the man who was running down with my big spear. He did not turn on 

 either of us ; for the Boar is a noble foe, rarely turning, unless desperately wounded and unable to go 

 on, to mutilate a fallen enemy. The Dogs immediately tackled him, and permitted me, though almost 

 breathless, to get up. The rifle-stock was cracked, and the pin that fastens the barrel into the stock 

 much bent. Having put this to rights, I loaded, and, proceeding in the direction the Boar had gone, 



