Page:Kéraban the Inflexible Part 1 (Jules Verne).djvu/69

Rh "What are we going to do?" asked the Dutchman.

"Remain quiet if they do not attack us," replied Kéraban. "We will defend ourselves if they do."

"Why should they attack us?" asked Van Mitten. "Wild boars, so far as I am aware, are not carnivorous animals."

"Quite so," replied Kéraban, "but if we do not run the risk of being eaten, we have the chance of being ripped up by their tusks."

"That's about it," said Bruno calmly.

"Therefore, let us make ready for any emergency," remarked Kéraban.

The travellers accordingly got their weapons ready. Van Mitten and Bruno had each a revolver carrying six shots; and a good supply of cartridges handy. The old Turk—a declared enemy of every modern invention—only carried two pistols of Ottoman make, with Damascus barrels, the butts ornamented with precious stones, but more suitable for ornament than defence. Van Mitten, Kéraban and Bruno had to content themselves with these arms, and determined to use them only when certain of success.

Meanwhile the wild boars, about twenty in number, were continually approaching and surrounding the carriage. By the light of the lamps, which had no doubt attracted them, the travellers could perceive the animals tossing up the earth with their tusks in their excitement. They were enormous specimens, almost as large as donkeys, of prodigious strength, and each quite capable of decimating, if not destroying, a whole pack of hounds. The situation of the travellers in the carriage would be by no means a pleasant one if they were attacked on both sides before daybreak.

The horses quite understood the position; and as the boars approached, the poor beasts plunged so that they seemed likely to break away from the traces altogether.

Just then some shots were heard. Van Mitten and Bruno had each fired twice at the boars which came to the attack. The animals, more or less seriously wounded, uttered terrible cries and gruntings as they rolled upon