by a man named Johnstone, who lived on the opposite side of the river from Altafort. This animal sometimes took it into his head to swim across the river, and come up the braes to visit Mr. Hamlin's farmyard; and as with his formidable tusks he was a very dangerous visitor, the gate by which he had once or twice effected an entrance was now always kept carefully closed. The gate was between one of the braes and a large field at the back of the stackyard. Through this field was the nearest way to Bob Kipplety's. Between it and the stackyard was a narrow path leading through part of the wood, with a thick undergrowth of sloe bushes. All round the field was a high fence; but in one place there was a gap, admitting an entrance to the lane that ran to Bob Kipplety's house. The gap was now, however, built up as high as the permanent fence itself; and any one wishing to pass from the field to the lane, or from the lane to the field, was obliged to clamber over it, by means of stones left sticking out for the purpose of affording foothold.

When Jenny, on her way home, reached the builtup gap, she climbed it, and then stood for a moment on its broad top, looking about her. As she did so, she saw Pierce, followed by Quiz, run along the farther side of the field from the gate, and toward the narrow path leading to the stackyard. When she had been crossing the field on her way to the Kippletys', she knew that the gate was closed as

usual; but she saw now that it was open, and was certain, from Pierce's manner of coming from it, that he had just unfastened it. She supposed that the men were going to draw some soil from one of the braes, and seeing Pierce apparently waiting for her, hurried on, without thinking any more about it.

But when she got to about the middle of the field, Pierce suddenly shouted:

"Run, Jenny, run! The boar! the boar!"

Jenny gave one look toward the open gate; but instead of running, as the mischievous boy had expected, she stopped and stood quite still.

And then, to Pierce's horror, he saw what Jenny had already caught sight of-the boar charging up the brae and into the field, with raised bristles, open mouth and gleaming tusks.

Jenny had often heard of the dreaded animal, but this was the first time she had seen him, and she thought it the most dreadful sight she had ever beheld.

She looked all round her in a kind of despair, but there was no shelter anywhere. If she ran, the brute would be upon her long before she could reach either the gap or the shelter of the wood. On the savage

animal rushed, while Jenny stood unable to move, so great was her fright. He was almost up to her before she attempted to fly, and then her limbs failed her, and she fell fainting to the ground.

The fall probably saved her, for the boar dashed

past with his tusks in the air, almost trampling on her as she lay unconscious.

It would be difficult to describe the feelings of Pierce, when he saw his sister lying at the mercy of such an enemy. He never thought of fear then, but rushed forward shouting at the top of his voice, to draw the attention of the boar upon himself. His faithful dog dashed forward also, barking furiously; and although at another time he would not trust himself within yards of the dreaded tusks, he now ran in quite close, trying to nip his heels, and then springing quickly away whenever the animal turned, running a little nearer the gate every time, so that at every fresh charge he was farther away from Jenny than the last one.

Pierce dared not leave Jenny to render the dog any assistance; though had the boar returned to attack her, he had nothing to defend her with, except an ash stick he had picked up as he ran forward. But Quiz seemed quite able to fight the battle himself, In spite of his anxiety, Pierce could not help admiring the instinct of the dog, as he sprang from side to side, evading every thrust the boar made, and not giving him a moment's respite, till by alternate attack and flight, he drew him on to the gate, and at length had him fairly through it. Quiz gave a joyous bark then, and turned and looked at his master, as much as to say, "Now's your time."

Pierce understood him, and ran to close the gate,