g my pistol.

Fortunately there were only ten of the animals left, and these we finally
managed to silence. After descending from the tree, I found Jerry in
anything but an amiable mood, at "the idee of an old hunter like he was,
bein' treed by a lot of hogs;" and, as usual, he declared that "them
cussid boys" was to blame, "for boys hadn't no bizness on the plains, no
how."

By the exercise of considerable caution in approaching the herd, we
managed to get quite near without attracting their attention; and I asked
Jerry if it wasn't strange that the boys gave no sign of being aware of
our presence.

"Sign!" said Jerry; "how could they give any sign when I couldn't hear my
own shots? Why, the only way I knowed if thet pistol went off or not was
by watchin' fur the smoke: the critters kep' up such a squealin' that I
couldn't hear you speak a word. I'll bet my hoss agin a chaw of terbacker
that them boys hain't heerd a shot we've fired, an' dunno we're within five
miles on 'em."

Taking advantage of our former experience, we approached as near and as
quietly as possible, obtaining position beneath a tree,--in the branches
of which we could place ourselves if necessary,--and then opened fire
upon them with our revolvers, with such good effect, that the remainder
of the herd took to their long legs and were soon out of sight.

[Illustration: Wild Hogs.]

When the last of them disappeared, the boys dropped to the ground; but so
cramped were their limbs from their long confinement, that it was some
time before they could stand. While they were getting "the kinks out of
their legs," as Jerry termed it, we counted our game and found twenty-two
of the creatures dead, and the ground strewn with portions of flesh,
bristles and bones, all bearing evidence of a fearful fray.

As the boys claimed to have killed but one of the creatures, we called
upon them for an explanation; and, from their story, it appeared, that,
shortly after leaving camp, Ned, who was in advance, had come upon a
large flock of turkeys, and discharged one of the barrels of his gun at
them without effect.

Soon afterwards they discovered the tracks of the _havilinas_.
Supposing they were either antelope or deer tracks, they followed them
into the grove, where they discovered the herd of hogs, quietly feeding
upon the mast with which the ground was thickly strewn.

Without a moment's hesitation Ned discharged the contents of his other
barrel at the anim