Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-10-18
cogon that reached to the horses

~ ana GeneTdl baluWln plunged
and snorted. There was a great COM
motion in the grass on both sides of
us.
pegs, pegs, senor," cried my
Filipino companion. ; ..
l was off General Baldwin" in an
instant and abandoned him to chance.
We had surprised them and were in
the very midst of herd of wild hogs
that were flying wildly in all direc-
tons. plunging and floundering in the
thick, tangled grass. One startled
me on my right another in front, an
other on my left. could hear them
everywhere, but one does not shoot
rifle by ear. Would every one Of
them escape? was badly ratified
when at last foolish young SOW did
for an instant show herself, dashing
in wild flight across little opening
fired wildly, desperately, with the
feeling that something must be done.
She tumbled headlong, dead as a door
nail, her brains blown out.
Knocked me down with feather?
Easily. Never was there such luck,
never such a chance kill; but with a
supreme effort hid my surprise, re-
covered my composure and walked
! up in the most matter of fact way,
as if such kills were everyday affairs
with me. From my Moro friends
from behind l heard the "Cluck!
cluck! cluck!" Of the tongue in the
| roof of the mouth, with them the
sign of wonder and admiration.
My Filipino had caught General
Baldwin" and now led him forward to
the dead SOW, but another mounted
member of the party kindly took her
and saved my good mount from the
triple load with which he was threat
ened.
1t was near nightfall. 'Iet us co."
said one, ITO the dump; they will
be coming there for supper
The dump was the depository Of
the swill and other refuse of the lit
tie army camps. 1t was at the foot
of mesa-like hill; on all sides cogon,
beloved resort of the Wild bog; be-
yond and below broad fringe of for
est, brush and vines on the broken
slopes of volcanic lake. Here were
safe refuge and cover. A stub of
tree on the mesa slope gave good
view. l slipped into it and confident
ly waited for the pig-appetite to fetch
me game; for that appetite, while
the saving, was, knew, also the un-
doing of all pig-kind. Its omnivor-
BUSINESS enables them to live well
where others starve; but its sharp in
satiable greed drives them remorsely
to danger and death that others risk
not.
The scavenger had deposited his
swill; it's scent pervaded the evening
air; covering darkness was nigh
My wait was long.
The sun had set, which in the
tropics means quick darkness. Soon
my eyes could no longer discern any
thing; but after perhaps half an hour
of quiet and darkness, heard fsom
the direction of the dump rustling
in the grass, followed by numerous
little grunts of quiet satisfaction
pigs in friendly converse and con-
graduation. The herd lad come.
They had found swill for their stom-
achs. They never missed their dead
companions nor long remembered the
shots, that had lately rung out over
the slopes and breaks.
I stealthily slipped from my bush
and crept down through the tall
cogon. They were scattered now, hid
den in the grass and shadows, intent
only on filling their stomachs, dead
to all things else. Smack, smack,
smack" went their mouths, on this
side and that. How they were enjoy
ing it! was right in their midst.
But / could not see them.
crept on, peering about with wide
open, strained eyes. At last began
to make out a dark object, a pig in
tent on something, some of the cele-
brated commissary roast beef, per
haps, in an old can, which he rolled
and ratified with Impatient greed. ,
sneaked right up to him, close
enough, it seemed, almost to prod him
with my carbine. He was busy, very;
l was smiling. 1t was comical. l
could hardly keep from laughing out
right, it was. such a joke on that
boar. / was half tempted TO jump at
him and cry "Boo!" to enjoy his sur
| prise and confusion. But | didn't.
1t was hard to see; aiming was cut
of the question in that shadowy place,
so after a little just prodded my
carbine forward at him and fired. A
flash, a squeak, plunge in the grass,
and quiet. l had missed him.
stood up, irresolute. 1t was hard
to thus quit the hunt; yet it was
dark. Would there be moon? Per-
haps; believed / remembered a
moon the night before. But who ever
heard of shooting pigs by moonlight?
However, l crept back to my vantage
on the hill, sent the young dato to
camp with my game, and waited for
time.
was rewarded Came the moon in
all her silvery tropical splendor, and
SO soon as it was light enough to see
a little, shadowy nose was thrust
out of bunch of grass from the side
of the jungle, hundred yards below
me. 1t was followed by bulky head
and stalwart shoulders. The nose
was in the air to take the scent. 1t
was filled quickly with the strong
odor of the swill. Thereupon his
| greedy stomach pricked him onward
with start, to stop again as sudden
ly after few steps; but only for an
instant; for nose and stomach quick
| ly got the better of caution and on
he came again with rush, then stop
| ped. 1t was plain that he knew the
spot was full of danger, but starting
and stopping, dashing forward and
hating, alternately driven by greed
and held back by fear, and the in
stinct of the wild, on he came and