wild-pig, referred to in the last chapter, was first observed,
it was standing on the margin of a thicket, from which it had just
issued, gazing, with the profoundly philosophical aspect peculiar to
that animal, at our four friends, and seeming to entertain doubts as to
the propriety of beating an immediate retreat.

Before it had made up its mind on this point, Corrie's eye alighted on
it.

"Hist!" exclaimed he, with a gesture of caution to his companions.
"Look there! we've had nothing to eat for an awful time; nothing since
breakfast on Sunday morning. I feel as if my interior had been
amputated. Oh! what a jolly roast that fellow would make if we could
only kill him."

"Wot's in the pistol?" inquired Bumpus, pointing to the weapon which
Corrie had stuck ostentatiously into his belt.

"Nothin'," answered the boy. "I fired the last charge I had into the
face of a savage."

"Fling it at him," suggested Bumpus, getting cautiously up. "Here, hand
it to me. I've seed a heavy horse-pistol like that do great execution
when well aimed by a stout arm."

The pig seemed to have an intuitive perception that danger was
approaching, for it turned abruptly round just as the missile left the
seaman's hand, and received the butt with full force close to the root
of its tail.

A pig's tendency to shriek on the receipt of the slightest injury is
well known. It is therefore not to be wondered at, that this pig went
off into the bushes under cover of a series of yells so terrific that
they might have been heard for miles round.

"I'll after him," cried Bumpus, catching up a large stone, and leaping
forward a few paces almost as actively as if nothing had happened to
him.

"Hurrah!" shouted Corrie, "I'll go too."

"Hold on," cried Bumpus, stopping suddenly.

"Why?" inquired the boy.

"'Cause you must stop an' take care of the gals. It won't do to leave
'em alone again, you know, Corrie."

This remark was accompanied with an exceedingly huge wink full of deep
meaning, which Corrie found it convenient not to notice, as he observed,
gravely--

"Ah! true. One of us _must_ remain with 'em, poor helpless things--so--
so _you_ had better go after the squeaker."

"All right," said Bumpus, with a broad grin--"Hallo! why, here's a spear
that must ha' bin dropt by one o' them savages. That's a piece o' good
luck anyhow, as the man said when he fund the fi' pun' note. Now, then,
keep an eye on them gals, lad, and I'll