“Pull yourself right up, Jack,” I shouted, and I had hard work to make my voice heard above the grunting and squealing.
“I can’t,” he yelled back.
“Then kick out at the little brutes,” I shouted; and just then he lowered himself to the full length of his arms, swung to and fro, and half-a-dozen pigs rushed at him, but he had gained impetus, and just as they made a dash at him he swung his legs up, and clung with them to a branch.
“Hurrah!” I shouted; and then a sharp squeal uttered by one unfortunate pig as Jimmy drove his spear through it as it passed beneath his feet, and the sharp report of the doctor’s piece, brought me to my senses.
The scene had been so comical, especially as regarded Jack Penny, that I had forgotten that I was letting several good dinners slip away, and I had just time to get a quick shot at one of the pigs which was stamping his hoof and grunting defiantly at Jack Penny, before the whole drove, including one that had received an arrow from Ti-hi’s bow, swept by us as hurriedly as they came, and were gone.
“Not hurt, are you, Jack?” I said, preparing to jump.
“Keep your place,” cried the doctor; “they may come back.”
“Well, I shall have a better shot at them,” I said.
“You foolish boy!” cried the doctor. “Why, the boars would rip you to pieces.”
I returned to my place at this, and it was fortunate that I did so, for directly after, as if in the wildest of haste, the pig drove came dashing back, to stop as hastily as they came up, and stand snapping, tossing their heads, grunting, squealing, and at times literally barking at us.