The Southern herald., 1886-06-26

hogs. We could hear them crashing
and pattering through the Under.
growth behind. Yes, sirs, that mule
threw me-something that no horse
has done since was ten years old.
"There was a rift in the trees a few
rods ahead, and away we went toward
it for our lives, hoping that 1t might be
the clearing around a settlement. 1t
was merely level piece 6f turf Id the
center Of which was a huge bowlder.
The bowlder's top was smooth, but
slanting at an angle of about twenty
degrees. 1t was lying upon one end,
the other end projecting SO far over the
center that apparently touch would
disturb the equilibrium, send the high
er end down. the lower up, like see
saw, the center OF the stone being the
fulcrum upon which itwould turn.
"The brutes were close at our heels.
l could smell the peculiar odor which
Like the domesticated hog-they give
off when in numbers, and could hear
the champing of their tusks. With my
right hand as a stirrup, Dolly vaulted
onto the rocks slanting top, and with
out two seconds to spare I followed,
scrafnbling up with more haste than
grace. We were both much more ex-
cited than / care to think Of, and in
stinctively-instin mind-Dolly
drew nearer to my side and my arm
went round her waist,
"The savage brutes pressed close to
the rock, leaping up at us and snap
ping their jaws like hungry wolves.
They filled the open space around us
for many yards, the rear guard press
ing those in the front rank so closely
as to almost crush them against the
stone. They were more savage than
wolves, They looked and acted like
hyenas.
"They crowded under the heprojecting
end of the bowlder. AS we moved
forward upon it, the center of gravity
was overcome, the ponderous mass
slowly swung upon its axis, the top
for the hundredth part of minute was
level, and then the end which had been
down rose into the air, while the other
fell smoothlyAwithout a jar, on the
grass, imprisoning a number Of the
hogs beneath it, Itwas the smoothest
and most astounding transformation
that have ever seen.
"The sudden disappearance of the
crushed victims seemed to disconcert
the drove. Possibly their leader
without whom, as the Don told me
later, they lose half their ferocity-
was among the missing. For an in
slant they stopped leaping, stopped
champing their tusks and stared fixed
ly at the bowlder that had proven it
self so dangerous. Then we heard
the rattling of hoofs upon a road close
by, and the party whom we had left
an hour before came riding into the
open space before us. 1t was toe
much for the hogs. They galloped in
to the woods on the opposite side Of
the clearing, disappearing as quickly
as they had come.
Madre de DiosP cried Don Fran
cisco, holding up his hands in amaze
ment. The Rocking Stone has saved
you. Thank Heaven you did not fal
into their jaws. They many and man!
time kill tiger
"Then Madame Calhoun's shocked
voice came in. 'Dolly!' she cried, 'wha
a fright you are! Come down at once!
"And suddenly Miss Dolly remem
bered that my arm was still about he
waist. She blushed to the roots of he
yellow hair, and was not more thar
five seconds in finding her way dow
, to the grass. But it will be more thai
, five years, you may relyupo it, befor
she or l will forget that little advent
ure. "-Detrot Free Press.