The morning call., 1893-07-23

not know that, and thought if he saw one
or two specimens there must OF course be
plenty more If they would only show up.
He was complaining about the scarcity
of big game to an old miner who stopped
to talk to him about week ago and asked
the reason.
There amt no big game around here"
said the miner. Got to go back in the
hills about two miles if you want any"
but ] saw panther few days ago, and
i have seen bear-tracks in the sand down
Dy ths spr ne" said Tom.
"0h, well, that may be. These animals
get chasing something in the night and 60
further than they intend They then stop
near water during the day until it is time
to go back. But you can't count on them"
explained the miner.
'And will l have to clear out to those
.zbig hills if want any big animals?" asked
IN, feeling discouraged.
.'Ye es, 7 guess you will unless you are
lucky enough 10 get some before you get
there. Bli II you want wild hogs you can
get them ri sha on the top of the mountain
over the river there"
Tom was interested very quickly and
asked q great many questions about where
the hogs could be found. but he forgot to
ssk about he method of hunting them
The man vent into details about the
spot W here they were plentiful. and said it
was not more than quarter of a mile in
straight line, but about three-q uarters if
he went to a certain canyon and got up
that way.
That night Tom scarcely slept. so anx-
ious was be to be up and chasing the wild
pig. By sunrise he was climbing the
mountain across the river from his house,
his dog following iu ubilantly.
When hunters go after wild pigs in the
country where they are plentiful they
always go on horseback, as the animals
vary danpprOuS " hpn numhnra n
fact. they are dangerous at any time if a
man happens TO miss his aim when one of
them is charging a, him.
But Tom did not know this and so was
elm bing over the mountain into a great
danger.
The top of the mountain was a mesa of
sand and cacti, with patches of mesquite
growing from the fissures of volcanic
rocks. Not a cheerful place even in the
early morning, and about midday would
be like an oven.
Tom did not have to hunt long to find
the wild pigs. In fact, he did not have TO
hunt at all, because the hard-skinned
little creatures hunted him. AS soon as
Tom put his head over the mountain the
wllG pigs knew there was chance for a
meal; and while he was looking carefully
behind every rock and cactus. the pigs
had got the scent and were coming after
him.
If he could have seen them with their
snouts IL the air running this way and
that. but all the time drawing nearer, he
would have made up his mind that he
didn't want any wild pig.
But he did not see them, so he kept n
hunting for them until he was startled bv
a chorus of gruDts. 1t was an awful
sound. but before Tom had chance to
analyZe 1t he saw one of the grunters run
out from behind rock and look around
in all directions. 1t WAS the only one visi-
bic, but Tom knew by the sound that there
we're many more near by.
AS twas he raised his rife and fred and
the pig curIed III into ball and lay still.
The dog ran I'D to. 1t, but made up his
mind to come back when he met the COM
rades of the dead peccary coming toward
him.
They seemed like an army. All were in
line and dressed up" in front as beauti-
fully as anv cou'p pany of soldiers.
They looked at Tom and showed their
long tusk threateningly. Their erunts
became louder and more shrill, and they
stamped their fore feet in anger
Tom was frightened. So was the dog.
But both stood still, undecided what TO %.
There were over dozen Of the pigs. and
all were frightened at the sight of a man.
which was rare one 10 them.
Then Tom fired and the foremost pig
fell over dead. This was the signal to the
others and the whole drove made a charge
but the dog suddenly felt the spirit of war
and ran in front, attempting 10 turn them.
They could not catch the dog and in fact
did not seem to want him, but made for
Tom. who took one more shot and tnen
started down the mountain The way he
came.
1t was dangerous thing to do, as the
sides were steep, and every step Knocked
whole waeon-h ads of loose stones from
their places, and they rolled after YOU like
an avalanche But Tom was not afraid of
the stonrs and would not have felt anxiety
if there were dozen times as many.
What troubled him was the pigs which
formed grunting line few feet behind
him, and the dog was behind them. snarl-
ing and biting most effectively But he
kept on down and also hung on to his r.r
Before the bottom was reached he had
gained hundred feet on the pigs, but they
kept alter him as rard as they could.
When Tom strnnk level oronnd he felt