Pig-Sticking 27 



but the astute wretch got into a mango grove. Over 

 a mud wall into the grove flew his pursuers, in 

 time to see the pig lobbing away across the field 

 beyond. Through and under the trees and brushwood 

 every one pushed their horses : it was an awkward 

 " lep " out of the grove, a stiff pear-hedge set on 

 no mean bank, but it was duly negotiated, and a 

 race down the next field followed. At the bottom 

 yawned a blind nullah, and it was a toss-up whether 

 to go slowly and jump in and out, or whether to fly 

 the whole thing ; unfortunately, the landing was boggy, 

 and two empty saddles marked the fate of our two 

 flyers. 



In the next field the pig turned and tried to make 

 back for the mangoes. S. was near enough to 

 ride at him, and the pig charged him directly he 

 gathered S.'s intention. The horse was not a 

 very handy one, and S. missed the pig, was 

 bowled completely over, and broke his collar-bone. 

 Every one galloped to the rescue, and first spear 

 did actually fall to M.'s proud lot. The boar went 

 straight for her ; for the second time that day she 

 leaned well down, and this time drove it home in 

 triumph. But unfortunately he went off with her 

 spear, and was evidently not badly wounded at all. 

 The first thing he did was to smash the spear short 

 off against a tree ; then, seeing G. coming up, 

 deliberately charged straight at him, and with the 

 neatest precision of aim, ripped his horse almost 

 from shoulder to quarter. G. speared him at the 



