The Hog 87 



if the victim hangs back in fear, or the other 

 members of the drove grunt out threats, the 

 enticer falls instantly to rooting, but roots so 

 as to keep the victim headed the way he should 

 not go. After the drove is running well in 

 line there may be a pretty bit of by-play — the 

 victim trying to lay a homeward course, and 

 the other blocking his way. Often the two 

 of them stand for ten minutes face to face, 

 twiddling noses one around the other as you 

 might twiddle fingers. The chances are that, 

 next morning, that particular drove will boast 

 a stray inmate, or the morning after at the 

 latest. Once the stray is well wonted, the 

 captor takes no notice of him, but goes after 

 another. The passion for conquest indeed 

 seems to grow by what it feeds on. 



Only the fattening hogs ever thus ran out. 

 The sows and pigs were kept in the woods pas- 

 ture, beside the creek, where they had clear 

 water to drink and wallow in, and leaves a 

 plenty for their beds. Straw beds or litter, 

 made them mangy — even grass and sedge, 

 though wholesome enough, did not compare 

 with leaves. The sows did not sleep all to- 

 gether, cross-and-pile, as did the fattening hogs. 

 Just before farrowing each made herself a new 

 bed, choosing for it the most sheltered and 

 sequestered spot she could find. 



Hogs are artistic bed-makers. In the woods 



