72 THE INDIAN WILD BOAR. 



we were encamped about twenty miles from Moradabad on the Bareilly road. The country 

 was a level plain covered with growing corn, which, although nearly ripe, was, owing to 

 the poorness of the soil, not much more than eighteen inches high. Several of us were 

 lounging about the mess tent, late in the afternoon, when we heard shouts of ' Jangli Stir', 

 and on looking out saw a Boar galloping through some shallow water about three hundred 

 yards from camp. Just then one of our men fired a charge of shot at him, which of course 

 did him no harm, but only served to enrage him. 



My horses were being cleaned, so that I shouted to a syce to saddle one, ran to my tent 

 for a spear, and was in the saddle and in pursuit of the Boar in little more than a minute. 

 He was about three quarters of a mile off, but I could plainly see him, and I sent my horse 

 along as hard as he could go. The Pig was going leisurely, and I soon came up and made 

 him quicken his pace. Just then he espied two wretched natives standing in the corn, 

 and at once changed his course and charged them. They turned to run, but one 

 was instantly knocked over. I was close behind and the Boar went on. I soon 

 overtook him, and gave him three spears in quick succession, but, in my hurry, I had 

 unfortunately brought a blunt spear, and I did not do him much harm. Each thrust was 

 followed by a most determined and vicious charge which it took me all I knew to avoid. I 

 had no spurs. 



We now reached a field of higher corn, and the Boar, turning suddenly round, charged 

 straight at my horse's chest. I had no time to get out of the way, and my horse was knocked 

 off his legs, receiving a cut under the left knee. I was sent flying, but found myself on my 

 feet in an instant, and had just time to lower my spear as the Boar rushed at me. The spear 

 glanced and I was at once thrown down, and the Pig immediately attacked me on the 

 ground, digging at me most savagely. I knew that my only chance was to prevent him from 

 getting his tusks into my stomach ; I, therefore, kept my left arm well to the front, and let 

 him rip at it, while I seized him by the foreleg with the right hand, and tried to throw him. 



He was too strong for me and kept on cutting me ; so finding that I could not get rid of 

 him, I resolved to try the dodge of shamming. I therefore threw myself flat on my face and 

 lay still, hoping the brute would leave me ; however, he went on digging at me as viciously 



as ever, inflicting two severe cuts on my he^.d. This would not do ! so I jumped up, and 



grasping my spear with both hands, drove it with all my strength against his chest — but it 



would not penetrate, and I was again knocked down. 



I now began to think that matters were becoming rather serious, when, to my delight, I 



heard horses galloping. I shouted for help, and as they approached the Boar left me. S., R., 



and S. then rode up, having by great good luck come the right way, for they did not even 



know that I was in front of them. 



I was scarlet from head to foot, and my clothes cut to ribbons. S. looked after me while 



the others went for a dhoolie. I was carried into camp, and my wounds sewn up and dressed, 



a job which took nearly four hours ! I had received about fifty wounds ; two in the head, 



one in the foot, and the others pretty equally distributed between. 



S. and F. went out next day in search of my enemy, but they were unable to track him. 



