THE RAJPOOTNI BRIDE. 
157 
CHAPTER XIV. 
THE RAJPOOTNI BRIDE. 
One morning the father and daughter were as usual 
enjoying together the pleasures of the chase, when 
they were separated as before. A boar having started 
from a thicket, was instantly pursued by the bold 
huntress. The animal was large, powerful, and great- 
ly excited by a slight wound which it had received in 
the shoulder from one of the shikarries, whom it had 
immediately charged and disabled. The undaunted 
Rajpootni fearlessly approached the enemy ; it in- 
stantly turned, struck her horse in the flank, and 
ploughing up the flesh, laid the ribs bare. She, how- 
ever, delivered her spear with unerring precision, forcing 
it through the boar’s body; — the savage beast rolled 
upon the plain and expired. This was a deed of 
prowess that would have done honour to any mas- 
culine arm. Whilst she was breathing her wounded 
steed after this rough encounter, a horseman sud- 
denly emerged from the thicket, came up to the fair 
vanquisher, dismounted, placed her upon his own fiery 
courser, sprang up before her, then, pressing his heels 
against the sides of his faithful Arab, plunged into the 
jungle in the sight of her father and his numerous 
attendants. It was the Rahtore ; there was no mis- 
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