the intelligence just communicated by the villagers, which was that a huge and indescribably monstrous hog had taken full possession of a sugar-cane field near a village about nineteen miles off, and the people of the place had sent their three ambassadors to solicit the aid of the Deal-table against their foreign foe.

"We will gallop out instantly," continued the huntsman; "so call our Deal-table party, and let us leave the rest here."

Accordingly the four Tickencoated riders got together, and away they went.

- CHAPTER XII.

The gentlemen of the Union Hunt had terminated a good coursing morning, and were enjoying themselves over a substantial breakfast, while the Dealtable hunters, accompanied by Clifford and Elsmere, were getting across the country at a hand gallop towards the village of Pringhote, about twelve miles beyond the Singhur range of hills, and which they reached about eleven o'clock. Here resting their horses in the jungle, the huntsmen proceeded on foot to. the patell of the place, who with great alacrity assembled all the men and nearly all the boys of his village to assist in getting rid of the boar, described by them in a style quite corroborative of their ambassadors' accounts.

In high spirits he returned to his companions attended by his village friends, some bringing with them milk and bajree cakes, off which the whole hunting party broke their fast, not, however, without expressing their wishes and longing for some more substantial provisions but pork chops were in prospect, and they seasoned their coarse meal with many a jest and joke.

A good feed of grain and a few bundles of grass, together with their rest, had refreshed their horses, and at three in the evening they mounted, and, accompanied by the villagers, rode forward to the cane field, which was situated near a raised hamlet that was in former times the suburb of Pringhote. A tremendous ravine yawned on one side of it, and a deep stream with a very rocky bed flowed close by on the other; while in front, over a fine plain, lay a thick cockspur jungle. The huntsman's long experience had taught him that this was the time of day when hogs in general quit their strong covers to drink, and therefore, instead of losing time by beating the sugar-cane, which was many acres in extent, he determined to skirt the field and move down to the banks of the river, trusting to find the boar carousing over his liquor. Nor was he disappointed; for on approaching the water a sudden roll, apparently of a buffalo, attracted the attention of Elsmere, who immediately said to Clifford, "I wish that had been the hog. What a whacker!"

"And so it is, by G-d!" shouted Clifford, whose more practised eye instantly discerned the snout and tushes of the monster as he lifted his huge grim head out of the

stream.

All eyes were turned towards the boar, for all had heard Clifford's animating shout, and soon all were in full gallop; for the animal, startled by the noise, had rushed from the river, and was making for the sugar-cane at a rapid pace.

To those who are unacquainted with the extraordinary speed for at least a quarter of a mile of a wild hog, it will seem almost incredible that an animal so formed as the boar is could manage to

keep before a tolerable horse at full speed; yet such is the case, and experienced hunters well know that for a spurt the fastest horses in India would not overtake some of them. A three-partsgrown hog, lean and lanky and outlying, will lead a light weight on a first-rate nag a long way before he takes to turning.

So, indeed, did the present party find to be the case, for though of enormous size, and no doubt well stuffed with sugar-cane, still the boar was in low condition and in high wind, and went like a witch before the hunters, and in spite of their best efforts regained the sugar-cane.

Preparations were immediately made to beat him from his luscious retreat, but scarcely had the villagers assembled and arrayed themselves in line, when a loud screaming from some woman who had been to the river for water attracted the attention of the huntsman, and soon it was made known that, disturbed by the clatter of our horses' hoofs, and the shouts of huntsman and beaters when the boar first started off, a large cheeta had made his appearance. One or two of the women, less alarmed than the rest, watched him enter a hole in the rocky bank of the river, and as the nobler game of the two, and so near at hand, the huntsman instantly decided upon leaving the boar in the field, and attacking the tiger in his den.

The whole party, therefore, returned to the river, and on their way were met by the huntsman's syce, who (the reader will recol· lect) was sent home from the fox-earth in the morning, and had now come back with his master's brace of Clare-market bull-dogs, accompanied by some servants carrying the celebrated Deal Table, and some dinner apparatus,

together with bottles of wine and beer, and a few loaves of bread.

The hole into which the cheeta had retreated was now surrounded by the horsemen, and one of the bull-dogs sent in to try if he could make him bolt, but after a long underground scuffle he came out dreadfully lacerated, and various other means to get the savage out were tried in vain, and night was fast approaching, when the huntsman addressed his companions, "Gentlemen, it appears perfectly useless to waste any more time in trying to frighten this fellow from his den. We must now do what we ought to have done at first. I take shame to myself that it did not strike me before. Mr. Elsmere, and you, Lintat, keep your horses close and ready for a start, should the tiger bolt. You, Foley, as you are the heaviest of the party, get astride over the hole, and when the gentleman comes forth drop on him, or pin him with your spear through the back, whichever may suit your nerves or your fancy at the moment. Clifford and Lesmore, come one on each side of me." So said and SO was done. He then took a lighted torch from one of the beaters (for it had been necessary to have light from the village, as the moon was only just rising), fastened it to the end of his spear, and, with the uninjured bull-dog under his left arm, he laid himself at full length on the ground, while Clifford and Lesmore followed his example, and the three commenced their entrance into the den like serpents on their bellies. The cave after a few feet took an oblique turn to the left, and they had much difficulty in keeping their spears protruded well in front. Now however, as the glare of the torch flickered over the place, deep growlings came forth from its darkness, and

it was with no small satisfaction to Clifford and Lesmore, notwithstanding their courage, that the huntsman called out disappointedly, "Damn the brute! 'tis only a hyena; but look out." So saying, he applied his torch to his back. Some seconds elapsed before the cowardly animal would stir; but when he felt the scorching deeper, he gave a louder growl, and dashed at his assailants in grand style. His rush upset the torch, and he thus escaped the spears of Lesmore and Clifford, and might have dashed over the backs of the whole party in the dark, had not the huntsman, at the instant his torch fell, let slip the bull-dog, who rushed on with all his characteristic boldness; and then, the three sportsmen backing, as the dog and hyena hustled forward, the whole group tumbled out of the den in laughable, though somewhat dangerous confusion. The natives "all scattered backwards as he came," with the dog fastened to his ear, and Foley, who had actually dropped upon him when he first made his appearance in public, was clinging to his leg. Elsmere's horse reared fearfully, and rushed in dismay from the scene, just as Lintat skilfully pushed his spear through his ribs; while the huntsman and his party, regaining their legs, soon managed to put an end to the interesting scuffle.

stomach feels confoundedly upset by the abominable stench of your hyena's parlour, covered as it was with putrid gobbets of flesh and rotting bones; so I vote for an attack upon the bread and the beer, and then, hey for what you like."

To this the huntsman, though a low grumble was heard from his lips, did not make any objection; and under a fine tamarind tree, by the light of the lady moon, they sat down to refresh themselves. Meanwhile, by the huntsman's orders, the villagers had gone to the sugar-cane with strict orders to keep a good watch lest the boar should steal away.

No sooner had they thus regaled themselves than the chivalrous spirit of the huntsman declared it incumbent upon the party to proceed at once to the place of action, which they reached about ten o'clock, and here a formidable opposition to their hoped-for hunt showed itself in the positive refusal of the beaters to enter the field until daybreak. Neither threats nor expostulations were of any avail-even bribes had no effect; and in despair they were about to return to their tamarind tree, when Clifford, addressing the huntsman, said, "You are well aware that hogs when once alarmed frequently take it into their thick heads to ramble away from their 'old frank,' and, under the advantage of a still night like this, why might not our friend here in the field adopt the same kind of manoeuvre? and as we are all anxious for a good night-chase, let us retire to different stations at a distance from the canes, and await our luck with patience. He may come out, and we shall then be rewarded for our perseverance."

66

Undoubtedly," exclaimed the delighted huntsman, you are quite right, Clifford, and I admire

'Tis worthy of commemoration." "Good!" said the huntsman, "and let the burthen be your own soul thrilling and glorious shout, the Midnight Boar."

The whole party earnestly joined in the request.

"You shall have one," said Lesmore; and the next night, at the Residency, he sang the following:

THE MIDNIGHT BOAR. TUNE-"The Glass is sparkling on the Board."

No more of daring deeds by day
The song shall pass my lips,
The chase beneath the moon's
bright ray

Doth every sport eclipse,
When over the stream
The silver gleam

Hath spread from shore to shore,
With spear in hand

We sternly stand

}

twice

To meet the Midnight Boar.

Oh, deep we'll drain the brimming bowl

To toast that jungle glen,

When forth like some grim ruffian

stole

The monster from his den.