Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-08

moon was full. There is this about India.
that wherever sportsmen go the possible
ties Of great and sudden change are i'm
minent. Every one knows what may lie
hidden among natures most lovely scenes;
every one feels how instant may be tran
sition from peace and ease to circumstances
In which nece Jsity requires the utmost that
any man can do. This. more perhaps, than
anything else forms the peculiar fascina-
ton Of jungle life, and makes seasons thus
spent haunt the memory always.
If tigers gaze was fastened upon us as
we sat in the open mess tent or II. later.
when the watch fires burned low. beast
more fell and deadly than a tiger-the Ash
attic panther-might steal through the dark
ness into our camp. none thought Of any
tragic contingencies there.
The wild hog Of India, sus cristatus. Is a
very different creature from its relative OF
the forest preserves of central or eastern
Europe. These animals are larger, heavier,
fieeter, fiercer than the latter.
A thin mist was rising from the river
and rolling over its adjoining plains when
we were reused in the morning, and after
Eight and hasty breakfast, mounted our
hcrses. 1t had been reported to US on the
previous evening that this place held a
black boar so big that even oriental hyper
bole failed in describing his proportions.
The venerable patel of Murray, who had it
in charge to collect heaters. made a few
Wild comparisons and then gave in for
want of appropriate figures of speech. Our
party was stationed with the usual inter-
val between each man, and then the beat
began, with Its usual horrtd din. Saunders
Of hog broke away in various directions
and single boars were reared who went on
at speed, but thus far the game vas In
significant. and We knew that liner quarry
yet remained concealed in the coverts. But
as our line Of beaters closed in the scrub in
front began to crash, and five gray bears
burst cut, followed almost Immediately by
the great black tusker himself.
The Black Colossus.
These animals had been driven together in
the beat, for, like many other dangerous
wild animals. the boar. except during his
pairing season. is solitary. Even then this
brute's sullen and fierce disposition Is such
that 1t Is necessary for the mother to hide
her progeny, since. otherwise. a boar. like a
tiger would destroy his own offspring. This
black Colossus came last. but hi. superior
speed soon placed him on the flank of that
struggling band which had fed before. We
gave them hunters law. four hundred yards
start; then the bugle call to ride was sound
ed. ach horseman sloped his spear, bent
over the saddle bow. and spurred forward,
as pursuers and pursued swept out upon the
Gunza plain.
Plenty or men are yet In the Iand OF the
living who remember what a buffalo chase
over ground undermined by prairie dogs
was like. This riding was even worse than
that. The entire surface was cracked In all
directions, and its dangerous condition, to a
great extent, concealed by the grass. As
for nullahs, every one expects these in In
dia, and they are encountered as matters OF
course. All horsemen know how seldom a
downward jump can be taken, and where
these ravines are too wide to leap and too
deep to be plunged into. they necessarily
throw out the field. But boar is not put
at fault for a moment. He goes to the bot
tom from a height that would break q
horses neck or back, without the slightest
difficulty, and while his enemies are seek
ing a practicable path, their game gallops
away, and often escapes. Add to all this,
that at one time or another during the
hunt a good Arab must be hard pressed In
order to bring the rider into a position to
make his final push, and also that at the
last he is constantly liable to override his
game on account Of its rapid doubling. one
can easily see how hog hunting calls for the
highest combination Of nerve and skill, even
without counting the closing contest with
a boar at bay: and this brute. as 1t stands
| champing foam from its cleaning tushes, Is
an adversary apt to carry wounds and even
death in it's charge. whatever be the dex-
terity and GOODNESS with which 1t Is met.
The Long. Hard Chase,