The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-12
TIE EVENING STOR Y
PEcCARIEs.
~ go BrvantI

never ventures TO stroll without T1lles
and where even with a rifle. one. keeps
an eye open for climbable trees. For
here are found peccariess peccaries by
the ones, the twos. and by the mum
dreds: the ferocious wild pig; the enc
animal from which an experienced
/ hunter will run.
Wainwright had been rold all this.
/ Every inhabitant of the ranch had
/ taken unlimited satisfaction in det5M-
/ ing to the young Englishlnan the hcr-
rors of a death by peccaries, ana n
inpressing on him the means BY when
such death could be avoided. But N am
wright only smiled knowingly. he naQ
/ heard before of the way these AMER
cans like to fable to a tenderfoot. he
/ did not propose to swallow everything
Even Billy the old-time chum on whose
ranch he was spending few months
felt it his duty to utter word or Two
of warning. But Wainwright was only
/ politely bored.
The sun rose very clearly that winter
1 morning. After the days of raw rams
and mists that had preceded It, the
woods. brown and sodden, seemed peau-
tiful to Wainwright.
He swung along, his pipe going like
4 a furnace. his fine shoulders squatsAy
back as he took in deep breaths OF the
exhilarating air, and his tawny nalI
| catching now and then CLEAN OF tnS
sun as it dickered through the trees
His rife was tucked very obedienty
under one arm, but he was not hufltlhg-
He was tramping through the WOODS
for the Englishman's mere love OF
tramping.
The sodden leaves under foot yield
/ ed up a damp, earthly smell that was
very pleasant to this earth-loVlng man
The trees rustled in compan ~
way, d rabbit or two scurried through
the bushes, his tobacco had just tne
fright flavor, and wainwright would
have been very contented had II NOT
been for his constant thought OF BliIy
/ sister. Things had been gong 50
| beatifically until the silly quarrel OF
yesterday, and now he never would
| have the courage to ask her il she
would adopt England for permanent
/ abiding place.
He stopped and stopped to tie his
shoe. AS he Strengthened himself
again he heard a tentative "Oof! near
by. A rough-coated pig was standing
a rod or SO from him, watching MIN
Hello, piggy!' said Wainwright,
genially; "are you one of the peccaries
I hear such shameful tales about2
/ They ought to be ashamed to maiign
such a. harmless little chap as you.
+ He reighted his pipe, picked up his
Erife and started toward the peccary.
"Out of the way, Mr.. Pig" he said.
The peccary did not stir. "Oof!
/ Oof!" he said.
"Oofl Oofi" was answered from a
nearby bush, and "Oof! Oof!' from
half a dozen different directions. Out
/ trotted half a dozen rough-coated lit
/ tie fellows with a businesslike gait,
/ and grouped themselves about the
first conner. Their watchful gaze was
trifie disconcerting. Wainwright bit
/ his pipe stem a little neryously.
by Jovel" he said, Hthis is rather
/ EN- barra ssingi If there is nothing I
/ can do for you gentlemen. perhaps you
/ viii step aside and let me pass" And
/ he took a resolute step forward. The
pecearies, with little grunts. held their
All this time their number had been
steadily augmented until Wainwright
was facing fifty OF the ugly little
brutes. He looked about
Gads, I guess the natives We're
/ right and Billy was not stuffing me
after ALL at least as far as the beasts
numbers sand effectiveness go. I GER
tainly am not going to try to shoot at
as close range as this; the brutes nfgh-
charge
The foremost peccary drew a little
nearer. His neighbors each took q
forward step. Those on the outer ed0e
showed each other a little closer. There
was peculiar ugliness about the little
/ brutes that was almost sickening.
Their dark little bodies, swarming I'M
/ pleasantly close, made him think of a
tale an East Indian soldier had told
a countless swarm of black spiders.
He looked al their s3avering, champing
t1sks and stepped slowly backward.
The peccaries circIed in closer ana
Wainwright stopped, lifted his rife,
took deliberate aim and fired at the
leader. There were loud "Oofs!" and
quickening forward of the whole
mass.
Wainwright recalled Bnly's warn
ing: Remember that when you strike
a herd of pecearies you are up against
a new proposition. They fear nothing
on the footstool. When you strike a
herd. just forget that you ever hunted
elephants or tigers drop your rife and
run for the nearest tree"
Wainwright gave a last glance at the
hundred cruel eyes fastened on him.
dropped his rife and gave one spring
to the trunk of the nearest tree bare
| " escaping the forward rush of the
seated in the lowest crotch. breathing
hard, with the peccaries paving,
grunting and roofing below him.
Il wonder how long this will last
he thought. IF little Jane could see
me, she certainly would think I was
getting my punishment for being so
surly this morning"
For an hour Wainwright sat in his
uncomfortable position. trying to find
soIace in his pipe and growing more
and more irritated- The peccaries
seemed untiring in their vigilance. and
he snuddered at the posi- bflity of fall
ing among them if he dropped asleep.
Far off through the woods he could
see a line of snake fence. He Won
dered If he dared run for it.
Just then he caught the cleaning of
a blue gown among the trees It was
Jane, wandering off to look for him.
| 'sShe should have known betteri Heav-
ems. it's my fault" he thought. His
heart stood still within him. Then. he
tore off his coat. vest and cap, and with
a blood-curdling yell threw them far
toward the outer edge of the herd.
Like lightning the little animals turned
in among themselves and fought for
the garments. Wainwright dropped
from the tree and flew toward the now
terror-stricken girl. Without a word
but Gomez he seized her hand and
started in mad fight toward the fence.
Almost Immediately. he heard the
peccaries behind him. but their start
was good. Closer and closer sounded
the siekening grunts.