AFTER WILD PIGS: BEING THE ADVENTURES OF TWO BOYS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2207, 18 June 1896, Page 46

AFTER WILD PIGS: BEING THE ADVENTURES OF TWO BOYS.

Bi MrjußAY Aston.

Chapter 'ill.

The mid-day rest ended, Colonel Seymour gave the order to start, and the party were Jdon on ths* marob, '; * • . - Their road was now growing steeper, and |h> keenness of th* air told them that they - ( were' gradually arriving at higher altitudes. ' THe horses stood the* journey well; although ■' spide of the; which had been racing : about in a most onneoessary manner began _ to show signs of fatigue, and it was nearly i ■ o'clock in the afternoon when Jem, who was acting the pait of guide, and therefore led the way, stopped .his horse and said: .:" : "It was.somewheras. near here, I'm sur«, . Sir, that we rested in a very oomfortable cave when we was after wild cattle.". And then he exclaimed; as he parted some bashes, '""Here's place., Ooine on, Master Harry; dome, on| Master Frank!" « -' :' And thosVyoutJg; gentlemen jumped from !! _ their/ponies -In double, quick time, and were ;presßicg closely on Jem's heels, when there was\a grunt and a 'rush, and. Jem was violently capsized on to Harry and Frank, 'and the, three lay all of a heap, while the / cause of their downfall, which proved to 'be '.a wild sow and five half-grown porkers, rushed away, pursued by all the dogs.

Jem rose quickly to his feet, and Harry

\ and Frank were not slow to follow, and in reply to their father's solicitousinqairy ac to whether , they' had^ sustained' ,any injury promptly '. reaesured ?him. Jem then drew his knife from its sheath and ran swiftly after the dogs, and. the boys haying obtained the oonS sent .of the colonel, rushed after him, guided in'the right direction by the baying of the ' pack. • They were jdat in time to see Jem tarn a porker over on his baok and finish him .with a slab in the throat. Poor piggy had been held by the dogs, one of which had . seized hold of him by an ear., and could . hardly be persdaded to relinquish its hold. ' 4< That'il do for to-day, as it's getting late, - young gents,! 1 said Jem, who then proceeded, to call back the dogs, who were some time, ■' however, in answering to his call, and slunk - back, one at a time, looking very, sulky. Indeed they seemed in their 'ardour for the ghace to have quite forgotten their, fatigues ; Of,the'day.' , - ; . must; get ' baok ' and light, onr . Are, before" it's dar.k," , said Jem. . " And what . do you think of pork 'chops for sapper, eh.?-" he facetioasly' asked. . '•';''■, : And then between them they managed to /regain the; cave, where they found. Colonel \Seymxnir, who had hobbled the horses - already; engaged in collecting dry sticks and f fern- before the' son' had altogether disappeared..' In a very few roinates, therefore, they had a bonny fire and the wild pig was dressed by, Jem, who gave the fore- ., quarters to the hungry doga and hung up the hinder .parts, /minus some very tempting slioes, oat of harm's away. These chops .were soon frizzling in the hands of our , adventurer^ at the end of long wooden ; skewers. The roast emitted a most gratifying aroma, and all deolared that they had never , tasted nicer meat, whioh 'they thought bore a stronger resemblance to good roast beef than to the ordinary pork to whioh they had been accustomed.- ' ■ . " What a savage old thing that mother pig did look, Harry," said Frank.' . " Y«a, indeed; and didn't she bowLus over 1 like ninepins?" laughingly replied his . brother. ..... . - "And it was a good- job you were not fiurt," said .the colonel. "Had- it been a > boar, it might have been a different matter. . Their tusks are nasty weapons, I oan tell you." -

" Oh, there's not much danger, sir," said ,- aTem reassuringly. " I know it's all right when you're about, . Jem, but I don't want my sons to be too venturesome, you know, although I, of course, [_ dislike cowardice: Still, I hope, they will always be on the lookout, and if necessary be ". ready Jo cut and: rap. for it! After all, that's I a good old say Ing that '.he who fights and . ... runs' away will live to fightanother day.' " ;'.'" /vWottld -I be\a ; little funk, then{ father, if ' : .I-gpt >: put of the way of <■ a big wild boar by \olimQiagVtree'?'' eagetlyaiked Frank/" ,="■ * \ no, means, my ,boy. I should v thlnk \ you w6uld be very unwise not to do. so, and I expect Harry would do the*Bftme, eh, . Herry?" • •'".-.* Hirry blushed and made no reply,' for he probably remembered his unkind speech to ' Frank.

(To It continued.)