Charlevoix county herald., 1905-05-27

O-V boar nuntllS- piS-StiNh
Il!Sl llsllI ing" as it is there more
generally termed-for excitement, ana
that most alluring of all elements OF
sport, a certain amount OF risk which
all who participate know they will
have to run.
L have had more than one dangerous
adventure with wild elephants, tigers
and bears, but l never have been in
such real peril as l was on the first oc-
casion that 1 tried my hand at pig
sticking. Those who have never seen
wild boar when brought 10 bay
wounded cannot possibly form any con-
ception of what n dangerous, vindlc-
tive and formidable animal it is.
On one occasion a party of three of
us started from BarrackpoOr, large
military cantonment near Calcutta, on
pig-sticking expedition. We were all
mounted on Arab steeds, which were
thoroughly trained to the sport, and
which had withstood many charge
| from an Infatuated boar. This trip had
| been planned some days previously.
and our servants and beaters had been
the rendezvous, a few miles out OF
Barrackpoor. we found our comrades
anXiously awaiting our arrival. with
the intelligence of several wild boars
having been seen to enter patch OF
Jungle about mile distant from where
our camp was pitched.
We made all our preparations, looked
to the tightening Of our saddle girths.
/ and with our spears in hand we at
once set off, followed by our heaters.
J They had hardly entered the patch of
' jungle and commenced to beat when
] out rushed a huge boar, one of the
{ largest we had ever seen. My horse
l. was young and frantic with excite
c ment. and it was with difficulty that
l. could hold him. But it was not the
+ first time l had ridden after boars, and
] at last l managed to bring him into
something like control. My two com
panions, Austin and Staples were close
behind me, and we soon closed on the
boar. with such even advantage tina
d it would have been almost impossible
to say who led. For 200 or 800 yards
! the boar, but every now and then glanc
II ing round at each other. the great OBJ
iect being to secure the first spear
that is. to be the first to draw bloot
from the boar.
1t is not always the first rider tina
secures the first spear, though.
course. the lead gives a great advan
Eos hot thnrQ
ways great struggle for it.
The boar was but few length
ahead of us, showing evident sign
that the pace was beginning to re
upon him. and just then l drew a littl
in advance of my companions, and m
gallant nag answering to the spurs
with my spear extended far in front,
tried to stick the boar. But at thd
very moment he gave a sharp turn, an
my horse dashing past lost my oppo
tunity. Austin, who was close behin'
took advantage of the sudden turn, an
wheeling his horse round met the bo'
and succeeded in touching him. calliI
out. First spear!
The boar now made another shal
| IuEn, anu IL was thdb otoPiSS wv
do to avoid the charge of the madden'
brute, which now ran behind Il 10
hedge and Rugged it so close as to re
der it difficult for us to get him oil
Determined that he should come o
IN into the open, 1 came up alongside
IT: him and drove my spear deep into l
." side as lie made a sudden half tn
nv. and tried to charge. My horse swerv
n little. but he behaved nobly, a
withdrawing my spear l was so
I ready again for action.
re. Wheeling round / met Austin. W
had just received charge from
boar. and q serious broadside collisi
took place between us. Both of
were shaken in our seats, and A
on tins horse nearly fell, but we manae
to pull ourselves and our nags togetl
me and the attack was renewed.
BY this time Staples, who had b'
ne in the rear, and had not as yet joii
the fray, came up, and together
ne forced the boar down into the dry
vas of nullab, into which it plunged,