12 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



presently found myself within 120 yards of two 

 guanacoes, which were standing looking at me. 

 Aiming at the largest I fired, when they both 

 bolted, "Missed, by Jove !" and I felt the sort 

 of miserable sensation that one feels after having 

 missed a stag, when Sandy says nothing, but 

 takes a long pull at the whisky, and lights his 

 pipe with resignation. I looked round, not a 

 soul was within a mile of me, and I felt thankful ; 

 but, halloa ! why the guanaco, after running 

 bravely for a few hundred yards, rolls over, 

 heels in the air ! Bravo, the smooth bore, 

 and welcome is the sight, for well I know 

 that brute will never rise again. Hurrying up 

 I arrived to see the animal breathe his last ; the 

 ball had gone right through behind the shoulder, 

 piercing the heart. I stood awhile admiring 

 the graceful proportions of the guanaco, an 

 animal I had never seen before, and from the 

 original wild stock of which the llama is 

 said to be produced. Its legs, feet, and 

 neck were like those of a camel, head like a 

 sheep, its body as big as a full-grown donkey, 



