CHAPTER SIXTEEN.
JEANETTE AND THE JAVALIES.
Next morning they were astir at an early hour; and, after giving theremains of the gobbler a hurried "devilling," they ate them, and rodeoff on the back trail. They did not put the dog upon it to guide them--as the scent was now cold, and they feared that Marengo, keen as he was,might get astray upon it. They trusted to find it from their owntracks, and the "blazes" they had made. It was a slow process, and theywere obliged to make frequent halts; but it was a sure one, and theypreferred it on that account, as they knew the importance of gettingback to Jeanette. The tent, with all their provisions and implements,was in her keeping.
They were in high spirits--as most people are who have just escaped froma perilous adventure--and joked each other as they rode along. Lucienwas without a shirt--for Marengo had torn it, and it was now draggled,wet, and worthless. This was a staple joke for Francois. Jeanette camein for a share of their badinage, as Lucien now remembered that he hadtied her head within a foot of the tree, and of course she would be allthis time without eating a morsel. Moreover, in their hurry, the packhad been left upon her back; and that was not likely to improve hertemper.
It was near mid-day when they came within sight of her.
"Hilloa!" exclaimed Francois, who first caught a glimpse of her round apoint of timber. "What's going on yonder?"
All three halted, and looked across the plain with astonishment depictedin their faces; and no wonder, for a sight it was to astonish anybody.It was Jeanette, to be sure; but Jeanette in most singular attitudes.Her heels were flying in the air--now her fore-feet, now her hind ones--not in single flings, but in constant and rapid kicking. Sometimes thewhole set appeared to bounce up at once; and the white canvas of thetent, which had got loosened, was flapping up and down, as her body roseand fell.
The boys looked on for a moment, with feelings of curiosity, notunmingled with fear. "It might be Indians," thought they.
"No," said Basil. "It is wolves--she is attacked by wolves! Let ushasten to her rescue!"
All three spurred their horses into a gallop, and soon got within a fewhundred yards. They could now see the ground by the mule's feet, whichwas covered, not with wolves, but with animals of a far differentspecies. They were hog-shaped, with small, dark bodies, and longpointed snouts. They had no tails--only knobs in their place; and theirtapering snouts opened into a pair of long jaws, with white tusks, thatcould be seen even in the distance.
"_Javalies_!" cried Lucien, who, although he had never seen the animal,knew them from description. Javalies they were in fact--the wild-hogsof Mexico.
All three had pulled up, as soon as they saw the animals were notwolves. They did not halt long, for Jeanette was in danger. She wasstill kicking and squealing like a cat; while the javalies, althoughseveral of them lay stretched behind her heels, were uttering theirshrill grunts, and rushing at her shanks whenever these rested for amoment upon the earth. There were more than a hundred of them aroundher feet. The ground was literally covered with their dark forms,crowding each other, and springing nimbly about.
Without waiting to consider the danger, Basil dashed into their midst,followed by Francois and Lucien. It was well they were mounted, elsethey never would have come out of that crowd again. All three had firedas they rode up. They believed that this would have scattered thedrove; but they found their mistake, for although each of them shot downa victim, it had no effect; and the next moment, their three horses werehopping about, plunging and pitching as badly as Jeanette. The javaliessurrounded them with shrill gruntings, driving their tusks into thehorses' shanks, and leaping up almost high enough to reach the ridersthemselves. It was well for them they were good riders. Had any ofthem been unhorsed at that moment, his fate would have been sealed.They kept their saddles, however, but without being able to reload theirpieces. Marengo, who was an old Texas hound, had seen javalies before;and having wisely shied off upon the prairie, stood looking on.
The young hunters soon saw that it was no use keeping their ground, andprepared to retreat. Basil urged his horse forward to the tree, andwith his hunting-knife cut the lasso that fastened Jeanette; then,shouting to his brothers to follow, started in a gallop across theprairie.
Perhaps never was a mule more pleased at getting loose from a fasteningthan was that she-mule Jeanette; and never did a mule make better use ofthe heels that had been left her. She galloped over the prairie, as ifthe very deuce had been after her. But if he _was not_, the javalies_were_; for on came the whole drove, scores of them, grunting andscreaming as they ran.
The horses easily distanced them. So, too, did Marengo--but there wasstill danger for Jeanette. She had been now nearly two days withouteither food or water, and was weak in consequence. Her legs, too, weremuch torn by the tusks of the wild-hogs. Moreover, the tent that hadgot loose, trailing on one side to the ground, considerably impeded herflight. This last circumstance in the end proved her salvation; for thejavalies, overtaking her, seized the hanging canvas in their jaws, andpulled it from the pack. It fell spreading over the grass like ablanket; and the herd, now coming up and mistaking it for their realenemy, commenced stamping upon it with their hoofs, and tearing it withtheir teeth. This gave Jeanette time; and she was just the mule at thatmoment to profit by it. Lightened of her load, she struck out into afleet gallop, and soon overtook the horses; and the whole cavalcade nowkept on, until they had placed several miles between themselves and thejavalies. Here they halted with the intention of pitching their camps,as their animals were not only wearied, but Jeanette was hardly able totravel at all. The process of "pitching camp" was now considerablysimplified, as they had lost not only their tent, but several of theircamp utensils.
What had induced the javalies to attack the mule? This was the subjectof conversation with our adventurers, as soon as they had fairly cooledfrom their race. They knew that these creatures rarely make an assaultin such a manner without provocation. But it was likely Jeanette hadgiven them this. No doubt they had been wandering about in search offood, and lighted upon the turkeys, that Lucien and Basil in their hastehad left lying upon the ground. The wild-hogs are not particular as totheir food. They will eat fish, flesh, or fowl, snakes, or vegetables;and, finding the brace of birds, had commenced devouring them. In doingso they had come within reach of Jeanette's heels; who, at that momentnot being in the best temper had no doubt let fly, and kicked one ofthem over, and this of course had led to a general onslaught from thewhole herd.
It was well for Jeanette that her masters arrived when they did, elseher old ribs would soon have cracked under the sharp tusks of theenraged animals.
The javalies, or _peccaries_--as they are more often termed bynaturalists--are in general of a harmless disposition; and, if notinterfered with, will rarely make an attack upon man. When provoked,however--by one of their number being wounded, or even when their hauntis invaded--they become both fierce and dangerous. Though smallcreatures, they possess extreme courage; and their powerful jaws andlarge tusks render them formidable assailants. Like all animals of thehog species when enraged, they seem to be unconscious of danger; and aherd of them will battle with an enemy until every one has fallen. Notunfrequently the Mexican hunter is "treed" by javalies, and compelled toremain on his perch for hours, and sometimes for days, before hisbesiegers retire, and leave him to descend with safety.