AGAIN THE MIGHTY BOAR ! 187 



old high copse on its other side, which, from my pre- 

 vious passage through it with the wolf, I knew termi- 

 nated in the open country. Of this high cover the 

 fields were on two sides, and young springs on the 

 other two ; so, could I but get the old solitaire into that 

 quarter, and my friends came up, a victory was per- 

 fectly certain. Alas, the point to which he and I were 

 willing to go was up-wind, so that two or three times 

 he winded me, and headed back ; for, hoping for a 

 slant of wind that might avail me, I several times 

 went into the thick cover to meet him, and obtain a 

 close-handed shot. So near did he come, that I could 

 distinctly hear the passage of his powerful shoulders 

 through the underwood ; and when he caught my 

 wind I heard him make the same loud snort that tame 

 pigs often make when suddenly disturbed in a farm- 

 vard — with this difference, that the blow or snort of 

 the wild boar convinced you of the greater power of 

 his lungs. 



When at a walking bay, the boar will avoid the 

 huntsman, if he catches his wind ; but, when seated 

 doggedly resisting all attacks in his arm-chair, and 

 resolved on fighting, then, if he catches your wind, he 

 will be safe to charge. After playing at this game 

 for a considerable time, and cheering the hounds up 

 to their work^ M. d'Anchald came up, and together 



