Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-06-05
CHAPTER XXIL
A EUN ASHORE


On Nav 2, 1879, we once more saw the
rocky headlands of New Zealand. soon
had made many friends, as 1 went ashore
nearly every evening. Among others were
two brothers named Maxwell, who lived
some twenty miles away on q large farm.
They had often invited me to visit their
home, promising me rare sport, but the dis
tence had hitherto made it impossible. 1
now resolved to ask permission of the Cap
tain to take my three days liberty all at
once, and, if possible, to accept their invi-
tation. The old man listened to my request
and said, with quizzical look: ''Want to run
away again." 1 assured him nothing was
further from my intention, and he evidently
believed me, for he told ME l could go, and
the next day 1 found myself on horseback
following nv friends over the rocky hills,
which are in places hardly safe for even the
sure-footed ponies. We arrived at noon,
AMI 1 was too tired after my unaccustomed
exercise TO begin my sport, so they left me
in the COMPANY of an elder sister, who was
their housekeeper, and went over to lake
near by, returning in less than halt an hour
with pair of wild ducks, which cor stituted
our supper. Rabbits, pheasants and pigeons
are very plentiful while upon the lake
large iocks of ducks are always to be found.
The only dangerous animal in that sec
tion is the wild boar, which grows 10 an
enormous size. They are seldom known to
attack a man unless they are wounded,
bu: once aroused they are terrible enemy.
They are always hunted on horseback, and
the favorite method of killing them is with
spears, but one must be an expert horse
man, as ] found to my sorrow.
Early the next morning we set out
mounted on our wiry little ponies and ac-
comranied bvtwo trained dogs NY friends,
named respectively Jack and Jim. carried
their guns slung upon their backs and a
long spear at their saddle bow, but I re-
yerSed this order in nv own person and
carried nv gun in my hand, hoping to get
shot at some smaller game, for was an in
veters.e sportsman, and wing shooting was
always nv especial delight.
Ny friends kindly set the dogs to beating
the bush, aad L had the pleasure of bring
ing down several large pheaSants in quick
succession, while my companions were evil
IDENTIFY much surprised that a sailor should
shoot so we'll
We had proceeded about two miles from
the house and had bagged all the birds
could conveniently carry when suddenly 1
heard shout from Jack, who was Z short
distance ahead, followed by l5ud snort
and crashing among the bushes. 1t
seems that Jack had ridden almost upon
huge boar living asleep n the sun, who now
went fearing through the thick fax at his
best speed Jim rode rapidly to the right,
calling at the same time TO me to remain
where l was.
needed no second bidding, for although
G good sho: on foot, I was a wretched horse
man, and had 70 desire to be gored to death,
as ielt sure would be the case should 1
attemDt to ioin in the snort
l could hear the shouts of the men and
the ponies snortiHg and crashing among
the undrrbrush, and nv horse trembled in
every limb. As the sounds grew nearer I
found 1t impossible to control him any
longer, so dIsmounted and turned him
loose, knowing that a whistle from his
owner would readily call him back.
placed my spear against the trunk of a
large tree. whose low, sweeping branches
would afford me a safe retreat, and waited
anxiouslv. The ground was comparativelv
open where / was stationed, as we had inst
entered the outer edge Of large wood.
Suddenly the bushes parted, and, with a :
furious grunt OF pain, an old boar crashed /
through into the open srace. while close be- |
hind him came the two riders who now /
charged on either side of him and rlunped /
their spears into his tanks, evidently avoid /
ing his virals to prolong the sport for nv
edlfcation. The boar would turn savarely /
upon one enemy only to rece ce a fresh !
wound from the other, and this was re-
peateG several times, until the huge beast
was a terrible sight. The blood poured
from his wounded quarters and his mouth |