2S6 A GALLANT DEFENCE. 



turned at me in an instant, but as lie did so, 

 the dogs snapped at him behind, which made 

 him resume his former position. I made 

 another attempt to stick the brute with the 

 spear, but with still worse luck than before ; 

 it did penetrate the skin, and must have 

 entered some inches into the body, but the 

 boar swerving quickly round, fairly wrenched 

 the spear out of my hand. The dogs proved 

 again my safeguard, for the instant the boar 

 turned his head from them, they rushed in, 

 and he was obliged to turn again and face 

 them. The spear had fallen in such a manner, 

 that it was under the boar's legs, and it seemed 

 rather a ticklish affair to recover it again ; 

 however with the aid of a hooked stick, this 

 was accomphshed, but we were still as far 

 from success, as at first. 



Beckoning to the man with the hatchet, he 

 joined me behind the tree. These hatchets 

 are very formidable weapons in the hands of 

 those accustomed to use them, but awkward 

 to strangers, as they are apt to turn in the 

 hand whilst striking. The man was not at 



