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and he wheeled and stood under a bush； charging at them when they came
near him； and once catching one； inflicting an ugly cut。 All the while
his teeth kept going like castanets； with a rapid champing sound。 I
ran up close and killed him by a shot through the backbone where it
joined the neck。 His tusks were fine。
The few minutes' chase on horseback was great fun； and there was a
certain excitement in seeing the fierce little creatures come to bay；
but the true way to kill these peccaries would be with the spear。 They
could often be speared on horseback； and where this was impossible； by
using dogs to bring them to bay they could readily be killed on foot；
though； as they are very active； absolutely fearless； and inflict a
most formidable bite； it would usually be safest to have two men go at
one together。 Peccaries are not difficult beasts to kill； because
their short wind and their pugnacity make them come to bay before
hounds so quickly。 Two or three good dogs can bring to a halt a herd
of considerable size。 They then all stand in a bunch； or else with
their sterns against a bank； chattering their teeth at their
antagonist。 When angry and at bay； they get their legs close together；
their shoulders high； and their bristles all ruffled and look the very
incarnation of anger； and they fight with reckless indifference to the
very last。 Hunters usually treat them with a certain amount of
caution； but； as a matter of act； I know of but one case where a man
was hurt by them。 He had shot at and wounded one； was charged both by
it and by its two companions； and started to climb a tree； but as he
drew himself from the ground； one sprang at him and bit him through
the calf； inflicting a very severe wound。 I have known of several
cases of horses being cut； however； and the dogs are very commonly
killed。 Indeed； a dog new to the business is almost certain to get
very badly scarred； and no dog that hunts steadily can escape without
some injury。 If it runs in right at the heads of the animals； the
probabilities are that it will get killed； and； as a rule； even two
good…sized hounds cannot kill a peccary； though it is no larger than
either of them。 However； a wary； resolute； hard…biting dog of good
size speedily gets accustomed to the chase； and can kill a peccary
single…handed； seizing it from behind and worrying it to death； or
watching its chance and grabbing it by the back of the neck where it
joins the head。
Peccaries have delicately moulded short legs； and their feet are
small； the tracks looking peculiarly dainty in consequence。 Hence；
they do not swim well； though they take to the water if necessary。
They feed on roots； prickly pears； nuts； insects； lizards； etc。 They
usually keep entirely separate from the droves of half…wild swine that
are so often found in the same neighborhoods； but in one case； on this
very ranch where I was staying a peccary deliberately joined a party
of nine pigs and associated with them。 When the owner of the pigs came
up to them one day the peccary manifested great suspicion at his
presence； and finally sidled close up and threatened to attack him； so
that he had to shoot it。 The ranchman's son told me that he had never
but once had a peccary assail him unprovoked； and even in this case it
was his dog that was the object of attack； the peccary rushing out at
it as it followed him home one evening through the chaparral。 Even
around this ranch the peccaries had very greatly decreased in numbers；
and the survivors were learning some caution。 In the old days it had
been no uncommon thing for a big band to attack entirely of their own
accord； and keep a hunter up a tree for hours at a time。
CHAPTER VII。
HUNTING WITH HOUNDS。
In hunting American big game with hounds； several entirely distinct
methods are pursued。 The true wilderness hunters； the men who in the
early days lived alone in； or moved in parties through； the Indian…
haunted solitudes； like their successors of to…day； rarely made use of
a pack of hounds； and； as a rule； did not use dogs at all。 In the
eastern forests occasionally an old time hunter would own one or two
track…hounds； slow； with a good nose； intelligent and obedient； of use
mainly in following wounded game。 Some Rocky Mountain hunters nowadays
employ the same kind of a dog； but the old time trappers of the great
plains and the Rockies led such wandering lives of peril and hardship
that they could not readily take dogs with them。 The hunters of the
Alleghanies and the Adirondacks have； however； always used hounds to
drive deer； killing the animal in the water or at a runaway。
As soon； however； as the old wilderness hunter type passes away；
hounds come into use among his successors； the rough border settlers
of the backwoods and the plains。 Every such settler is apt to have
four or five large mongrel dogs with hound blood in them； which serve
to drive off beasts of prey from the sheepfold and cattle…shed； and
are also used； when the occasion suits； in regular hunting； whether
after bear or deer。
Many of the southern planters have always kept packs of fox…hounds；
which are used in the chase； not only of the gray and the red fox； but
also of the deer； the black bear； and the wildcat。 The fox the dogs
themselves run down and kill； but as a rule in this kind of hunting；
when after deer； bear； or even wildcat； the hunters carry guns with
them on their horses； and endeavor either to get a shot at the fleeing
animal by hard and dexterous riding； or else to kill the cat when
treed； or the bear when it comes to bay。 Such hunting is great sport。
Killing driven game by lying in wait for it to pass is the very
poorest kind of sport that can be called legitimate。 This is the way
the deer is usually killed with hounds in the East。 In the North the
red fox is often killed in somewhat the same manner； being followed by
a slow hound and shot at as he circles before the dog。 Although this
kind of fox hunting is inferior to hunting on horseback； it
nevertheless has its merits； as the man must walk and run well； shoot
with some accuracy； and show considerable knowledge both of the
country and of the habits of the game。
During the last score of years an entirely different type of dog from
the fox…hound has firmly established itself in the field of American
sport。 This is the greyhound； whether the smooth…haired； or the rough…
coated Scotch deer…hound。 For half a century the army officers posted
in the far West have occasionally had greyhounds with them； using the
dogs to course jack…rabbit； coyote； and sometimes deer； antelope； and
gray wolf。 Many of them were devoted to this sport；General Custer；
for instance。 I have myself hunted with many of the descendants of
Custer's hounds。 In the early 70's the ranchmen of the great plains
themselves began to keep greyhounds for coursing （as indeed they had
already been used for a considerable time in California； after the
Pacific coast jack…rabbit）； and the sport speedily assumed large
proportions and a permanent form。 Nowadays the ranchmen of the cattle
country not only use their greyhounds a