DIFFICULT RIDINC;, 
reach of my spear. I was determined this time to get my 
horse's head alongside of him before 1 made my effort, but, 
eager fool that I was, instead of letting the spear glide into 
him 1 made a poke, and the point not being depressed enough 
jerked up, and passed harmlessly over the boar's back. I 
made another vain attempt but the opportunity was lost^ he 
passed into some thick grain, where the ground was heavy, 
and my horse being blown he gradually got ahead» I viewed 
him twice afterwards but he was too far off» besides he had 
FATHER A STOPPJ'.n, 
got to water, and it is curious how even one roll in the w^ater 
will refreshen a hog ; the moment l>efore he may appear 
hardly able to drag his weary limbs along, one splash, and 
he will become as fresh as ever and go for miles. Whenever 
a boar finds himself pressed he at once makes for water, and 
therefore it is necessary to spear him if possible before he 
attains his object. 
Some of the ground at Ahmed-nugger was very difficult 
to ride over. To ascend to the crest of a rocky range of hills 
