that the Maharajah had provided. The beaters streamed down the steep
bank into the ravine which some distance away was filled with dense
scrub affording good cover for the quarry. Forming line they moved
through it with shrill yells, the blare of horns, the beating of
tom-toms and a spluttering fire of blank cartridges from old muskets.
The riders mounted and, spear in hand, eagerly watched their progress
through the jungle. Wargrave found himself beside Mrs. Norton; but,
after exchanging a few words, he forgot her presence as, his heart
beating fast with a true sportsman's excitement, he strained his eyes
for the first sight of a wild boar.

Suddenly, several hundred yards away, he saw a squat, dark animal emerge
from the tangled scrub and, climbing up the _nullah_ on their side,
stride away over the sand with a peculiar bounding motion that reminded
Wargrave of a rocking-horse. All eyes were turned towards the
Maharajah, who would decide whether the animal were worthy of pursuit or
not. He gazed after it for a few moments, then raised his hand.

At the welcome signal all dashed off after the boar at a furious gallop,
opening out as they went to give play for their spears. Wild with
excitement, Wargrave struck spurs to his horse, which needed no urging,
being as filled with the lust of the chase as was the man on its back.
Like a cavalry charge the riders thundered in a mad rush behind His
Highness, whose faster mount carried him at once ahead of the rest. He
soon overtook the boar. Lowering his spear-point the Maharajah bent
forward in the saddle; but at the last moment the pig "jinked," that is,
turned sharply at right angles to his former course, and bounded away
untouched, while the baffled sportsman was carried on helplessly by his
excited horse.