24 A Sportswoman in India 



body, just behind the shoulder, directly he was within 

 reach. Her body swung forward as she made the 

 effort . . . there followed an instant of deadly sickness 

 . . . Gracious heavens ! she missed him. It was but 

 an instant, home went the pig's charge, and over went 

 the Arab as though he had been a ninepin. M. 

 was hurtled into the air, a vision of sky followed, 

 and then stars. . . . Sitting loose as she leaned down, 

 she came well away from the horse, and a few seconds 

 after, getting up giddy and sick, the first thing her 

 dazed eyes rested on was the pig charging again 

 at her as hard as he could gallop, with a hoarse 

 grunt of resolute defiance. His bristles were all 

 erect, standing up at right angles to his curved 

 spine, his great wedge-shaped head and keen tusks 

 were lowered, his vast muscle working round the 

 great shoulders all seemed to add a savage resolution 

 to his charge. M.'s spear lay several feet off 

 her, and she did the only thing there was time to 

 do threw herself flat on her face and lay still. In 

 another second the pig was cutting what remained 

 of her habit into ribbons, and she could feel sharp 

 gash after gash in the small of her back as he 

 tore at the body of his prostrate foe. Then G.'s 

 voice rang out, and never was woman more glad. 

 He speared the boar and drew him off M., who 

 sat up once more, considerably bruised and battered, 

 but still with plenty of life. The last scenes in such 

 a contest would be sad and horrible, if they were not 

 so full of danger and excitement. 



