PigvSticking 31 



a short prayer, for rarely in this life does a man face 

 deadlier risk than when he meets on foot the charge 

 of an Indian boar. What equals that deadly sickness 

 of a pulse-beat's length which comes over the doomed 

 shikari as his spear-point glides along, and not into, 

 the leathery shoulder of his foe ? It was practically 

 impossible for S. to spear him in front, for if he 

 attempted to do so, the spear would only strike his 

 head, be knocked up into the air, and the pig would 

 be upon him in a moment. The best, or almost 

 sole chance seemed to be to await his charge till 

 he should be within reach, and then to spring aside 

 and spear him as he rushed by ; but heavy riding- 

 boots and the hard ride only a few moments before 

 made this a risky business, and it would be difficult 

 to be quite quick enough. Long as descriptions 

 always seem, there must have been no time in reality 

 for thinking or hesitating, in another moment the 

 boar was upon S. He took his chance, stood still, 

 and stood the charge almost, it would seem, till 

 the pig was on the point of his spear ; then, as he 

 had planned, jumping aside, he ran the spear well 

 home into his ribs and heart. But it was more a 

 lucky fluke than anything. 



A boar is full grown at five years old, but he fills 

 out till he is eight ; after nine years old his powers 

 begin to wane and his temper grows worse ; from 

 that time he is an ugly customer to meet. He may 

 live till he is sixteen or twenty, but he is then in 

 his dotage. 



