noted
and kept quiet. The dogs are held in leash till well within sight, say,
from half to one mile off. The animals are easily startled, and they
know that their best chance of safety depends on their reaching the
hills before their pursuers overtake them.

With a fast horse, giving full-grown pigs a start of a mile, it will be
all the huntsman can do to pick them up in a gallop of 3 to 5 miles, and
the best chance in his favour is when there is a herd, and not only a
single pig or small number of strong hardy fellows. Until pressed the
herd will keep pretty much together, and if by good management the
hunters contrive to get to leeward of them as well as to intercept them
from making direct for the cover of the hills they are sure of good
sport.

The kangaroo dog (so called) was a cross between a stag-hound and
mastiff, very fast and powerful, and he ran only by sight. A
well-trained dog on overhauling his pig will run up on the near side and
seize the boar by the off lug, thereby protecting himself from being
ripped by the animal's tusks. Then the hunter should be on the spot to
jump off his horse and assist the dog by plunging his knife into the
beast's heart from the off side.

With a good dog the danger to which the experienced hunter is exposed is
slight. A properly trained, courageous dog will hold the largest boar
for several minutes in the manner described and will not let him go till
forced to from sheer exhaustion. But if he is obliged to disengage
himself before assistance arrives, he will very probably be ripped or
killed.

The trained bush horse will stand quietly where his rider leaves him,
never attempting to move further from the spot than to nibble the grass
will necessitate.

One day, having heard that a large mob of pigs had come down on the
plains near the gorge of the Rakaia, some fifteen miles off, we at once
organised a hunt, and two neighbours from another station promised to
join us.

A rendezvous was fixed upon where we were to meet at daybreak, a bullock
dray having been sent on the previous night. We were all well mounted
and equipped with three fine dogs. After riding some ten miles we
separated, taking up a long line over the plain, and using our field
glasses to obtain an idea of the position of the herd as soon as
possible, and thus give us time to arrange a plan of attack before
coming to too close quarters, the animals being very quick to scent
danger.

One of our friends,