28 A Sportswoman in India 



same time, but it seemed to have no effect at 

 all ; he was nothing more or less than a fiend, with 

 the grit of a thousand devils. An unfortunate mail 

 (keeper of the mango grove) had hurried up, full 

 of curiosity, which was promptly satisfied : the boar 

 carefully stalked him, rolled him over, rent his scant 

 garments, and once more galloped off. 



All this was the work of a moment, and no riders 

 seemed able to get near him ; now, however, they 

 were not far off, racing down a road, the pig only 

 just in front. Over he threw two wretched women, 

 one after the other, who were going down the road 

 with waterpots ; both were badly cut. Through a 

 village he rattled, tilting a native, who was standing 

 by a well, straight into it ; finally he was brought 

 to bay near a sugar crop, and taking up his stand 

 he charged time after time at his pursuers in turn. 

 I have never seen such magnificent pluck or such 

 implacable defiance in any animal ; he never lost 

 either his head or his heart, and his grim, devilish 

 temper was a study. Speared twice again, at last 

 he fell and died, " the bravest of the brave " : humans 

 would do well if they could play the game of life 

 as nobly, and meet death as callously. 



God grant that whenever, soon or late, 



Our course is run and our goal is reached, 



We may meet our fate as steady and straight 

 As he whose bones in yon desert bleached. 



Are these the feelings, aroused in all thinking minds 

 by the nobility of creation, which we have often heard 



