To fire the gun was out of the question, and so clubbing it, Tom ran at the hog and dealt him a blow on the head, hoping in that way to secure the game which he could not shoot.

The blow fell upon the nose of the animal, however, and while it brought a squeal of pain from him, it produced no beneficial result.
The hog ran rapidly away, and Tom was left with nothing better than a broken gun to carry back to the fortress.
Arriving there about three o'clock in the afternoon he told the doleful story of his failure, and sitting down burst into tears.
"Come, come!" said Sam.

"This will never do, old fellow.

It's bad enough as it is without crying about it.

We'll come all right if you'll only keep your courage up, and give me a chance to think.