34 



THE WILD BOAR. 



shapes, afford ample protection from any enemy 

 who may attack him from behind; and then, 

 backing himself against this natural fortress, he 

 awaits the onset of his foes. 



His assailants do not tarry long. Encircling 

 his refuge, they try to avoid the dangerous teeth, 

 and to seize him from behind. All their efforts 

 to reach him are unavailing. 



Angered at being so foiled, several rush on him 

 at once, hoping to distract his attention by num- 

 bers, but the massive head is quickly turned on 

 either side, and the nearest Wolf -is hurled help- 

 less on the ground, bleeding from several fearful 

 gashes, while the remainder recoil to a safer 

 distance to gnash their teeth with impotent rage. 



The grim inhabitant of the jungle, in the mean- 

 while, his. small wicked-looking eyes glancing 

 fire, and the blood and froth falling from his open 

 mouth, with his short tail curled tightly over his 

 back, secure in his post of vantage, grunts aloud 

 his defiance. 



The cries of the discomfited Wolves bring 

 others to their aid, and over the moon-lit snow 

 the shadowy forms of many loping creatures are 

 seen advancing to help their brethren. Soon the 

 fight will become more desperate and furious. 

 Urged on by long-experienced hunger, the Wolves 

 will forget the danger in their desire to secure 

 the prey, and, encouraged by numbers, will as- 

 sail the Boar on every side. 



He will not be idle, but, impelled by the great 

 strength of his neck, the tusks will be used mer- 

 cilessly, and the prostrate bodies of his foes will 

 lie around and before him, crimsoning the snow 

 with their life-blood as it streams from many a 

 gaping wound, while the cries of the combatants 

 arouse the sleeping echoes of the wood. At 

 length, dismayed and discomfited by his valiant 

 defense, the few survivors among his assailants 

 will gradually slink away, leaving him to emerge 

 from his secure position, a victor in this desper- 

 ate conflict at close quarters. 



