22 A Sportswoman in India 



little Arab scrambled in and out, and was once more 

 following the other two, in view still of the pig as 

 he galloped along. It was a rough bit of country, 

 overgrown here and there with tufts of grass ; and 

 suddenly there was^a flutter of habit, a vision of heels, 

 the little Arab disappeared in a buffalo hole, and 

 M. landed in the middle of some tall reeds on 

 the edge. She had her reins, which always saves the 

 extreme annoyance of being left riderless ; but in this 

 case she had her horse to extricate, and having picked 

 up her spear and scrambled on again, was just in 

 time to see the pig, some way ahead, charging some 

 unfortunate natives, who were cutting reeds and grass 

 for thatching purposes, on the right. Indignant and 

 vindictive, he deliberately deviated from his course, 

 caught one fugitive between the knees as he fled, 

 cutting his thighs badly, sending him head over heels, 

 and went on his own way rejoicing. A pig possesses 

 the shortest temper of any living animal, and when 

 roused, his sharp, curving tusks, used with incredible 

 swiftness and unerring aim, are useful instruments ! 



It is quite impossible in pig-sticking to watch the 

 ground over which one rides ; the sole aim and object 

 must be to keep the eye on the pig, and with a 

 childlike faith to place all else in the hands of the 

 horse. Corners must not be cut off nor short cuts 

 chosen in bad ground, for no one has any idea what 

 they may be coming to, whereas the pig must have 

 found some sort of a footing (however " sketchy " 

 that footing may be), and is better than no guide at all. 



