38 The Hunting Grounds 



The hog cleared a deep chasm like a bird, and 



we all followed except W , whose horse fell on 



landing, giving him a heavy fall, and rolling over 

 him. The ground now became firmer, the pace 

 was terrific; and now came the tug of war for 

 the honour of the spear suddenly the hog, which 

 was not more than a dozen horses' lengths in 

 advance, disappeared. "What's that?" cried some 

 one behind. " God knows," cried N , ramming 

 his hunting-cap down over his eyes, and in 

 another moment we had leaped the steep bank of 

 a nullah (a perpendicular drop of about seven 

 feet), and were floundering in sand and water. 



D got an ugly fall, his horse rolling over 



him, and putting him liors de combat ; S also 



found his horse sprained in the stifle, and he had 



also to pull up. N , C , O , and 



myself, managed to scramble up the opposite bank, 

 and were once more on terra firma. 



The pace was very severe, and began to tell; 

 and although Lall Babba appeared less distressed 

 than the other horses, I knew he could not last much 

 longer. Still, on we went. I was neck and neck 



with N , and C and O were close 



behind. We were evidently fast closing with the 

 hog, when we came to another yawning chasm, 

 of which he made " an in and out." "Never say 

 die," cried N , and over it we both flew, landing 



