as wonderful as it was alarming; for I had no idea before, that hogs
could be as active or as ferocious as these appeared to be.

As they came towards us, Jerry exclaimed,--

"Take keer! take keer! we'd better look out;" and, without further
explanation, he began to climb a tree.

I followed suit, and we were soon safely perched among the thick branches
of a post-oak.

We had hardly reached a secure position when they were upon us. I must
say that I never was more thankful for a place of refuge than when I saw
the ferocious aspect of the gaunt, savage creatures. They crowded beneath
the trees, with erect bristles, small, bloodshot eyes, gleaming white
tusks, and frothing mouths, filling the air with their shrill cries, and
striking the trunks such sturdy blows with their long, sharp tusks, that
the trees fairly shook at each fresh assault.

They seemed as agile as cats, and occasionally one more ferocious than
the others would bound up, until I began to think I should be obliged to
leave the limb on which I was sitting.

As soon as we were fairly fixed on our perches, and had time to take a
survey of the situation, we opened fire upon them to such good purpose
that we killed nine with our revolvers. This wholesale slaughter seemed
only to excite the fury of the others, for they commenced gnawing the
trees so fiercely that Jerry became alarmed, and urged me to use all
possible dispatch in reloading my pistol.