BREAKING COVER.

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hearing and smell. All was now silence, and each stood on the tiptoe of expectation, gladly anticipating not only the pleasure of bagging his boar, but also that of converting him into savoury pork-chops, the demolition of which it was hoped would-on our return to a comfortable dinner and snug tent-finally conclude the operations of the day.

Presently were heard faint and distant shouts, which, after continuing for a considerable time, gradually increased in loudness as they became nearer, until the sight of a boar, viewed by one of the beaters, produced a loud simultaneous yell, to which a dog, having got on the scent, soon added the music of his melodious tones.

The thrashing of the bushes began now to be plainly heard; more pigs were roused from their shady lairs, the rest of the dogs gave tongue, the tumult increased, and every moment became louder; until at last the old tusked boar, a matronly sow, and a whole brood of young squeakers, burst forth at once from the thick covert, and were seen scamper

ing across the small open space in front of our station. A well-sustained fire immediately commenced, and the shots fell thick and fast amidst the flying herd.

“ Hit him, by Jove!”cried one. " So have I."" I saw him tumble over into yonder bush!"-"Where the devil were you firing? your shots were whistling like hail about my ears!" With these and fifty other griffinish* expressions, they all ran helter skelter into the wood in hot pursuit of the killed and wounded, and I must confess I felt not a little ashamed at being seen with such a set of greenhorns. The old Moor-our father Nimrod-said nought; but only shrugged his shoulders in silent contempt, for he right well knew that not a shot had taken effect; both the thirsty soil and adjoining bushes being free from telltale stain or 66 gouts o' blood."

However, assuming Jacob Faithful's motto of "Better luck next time," we proceeded to a

* The writer of this letter here betrays himself as an old Indian, the term "Griffin" implying there a new hand or "Johnny Raw."

fresh piece of ground, formed another line, sent the beaters on again, and again we had the same repetition of noise and shouting; but this time we were more successful, for on the firing of a gun by one of the beaters, and the yelping of the dogs, who evidently had come athwart a boar, the Yankee-to whom the noise was nearest-got a flying shot through the bushes, and floored his pig in right good style. The poor "khelb," one of those which we had despised, and whose "beard" we had laughed at in the morning from his ill-bred appearance, was in reality game to the back-bone, for he came boldly up with his foe, and seized him by the ear he received, however, a severe wound in the flank, by which he was completely disabled.

Our next proceeding was—after lightening the "grunter" of all superfluities-to stow him securely on the back of a mule, in which operation our Moorish friends would give us no assistance; but ere the already heavily

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JEWISH RASCALITY.

laden animal was out of sight, we beheld one of them snugly seated on the top of the still reeking carcase of the unclean beast, and in spite of religious prejudices apparently making himself very comfortable.*

This was, I am sorry to say, our only trophy; for having next tried an oak wood without success, as the day was on the wane,—and being some distance from our encampment,-it was considered advisable to retrace our steps, and we were therefore under the necessity of contenting ourselves with a single "khunzeer." To our great dismay, on our arrival at the ground of our expected camp, we found that the rascally Jew, Benoliel, had grossly deceived us with regard to the tents, which, in fact, were nothing more than a blanket or piece of canvas hung across an horizontal pole, placed on two upright stakes driven into the ground, and so small, that we began to consider if we could really stow ourselves under the scanty

*The stricter Mahometans will not, for fear of contamination, use a European saddle, which is generally made of pig's skin.

covering; our chief valet: Sheriffe Mohammed, had, moreover, pitched them on the lowest spot of ground he could find, thereby giving us the benefit of the rain-water, as it flowed in torrents down the sides of the hill.

To add to our wretched condition, the very flood-gates of heaven now opened o'er our devoted heads, and not only completely drenched us to the skin, but likewise saturated our carpet-bags. However, we put the best facewe could on the matter; and huddling close together, we consoled ourselves by grilling pork-chops, drinking stiffeners of grog, and obtaining some little additional shelter under the thick clouds of smoke issuing from our lighted cigars. Matters were in this train when suddenly the sounds of merriment and song came upon our ears, and our Moorish friend Mr. Sheriffe Mohammed, shoving his. ugly phiz into the tent, said, "Davy, come and see music.' The vagabond had heard us call Fyffe familiarly by the name of "David," and immediately caught up the sobriquet.

Anything for a change; so we all adjourned.