222 SPORTING ADVENTUBES 



turned the deer towards me, and I rolled it 

 over as it bounded into the bush. Great was 

 the rejoicing over this beast, the hounds 

 crowded round ; the old native came out of the 

 bush, perspiring freely, and scraping the " gar- 

 rapatos" or ticks off his skin with his "machete." 

 This beginning seemed to promise well for a 

 good day's sport, but much to my disappoint- 

 ment the deer was hoisted up into the carriage, 

 and we drove back to Panama to breakfast. I 

 subsequently had several other days' hunting 

 with this wonderful pack ; the different animals 

 brought to bag was most amusing, and fully 

 bore out the character their owner gave them. 

 On one occasion, after waiting at my post for 

 at least an hour, a deafening chorus burst forth, 

 apparently close at hand. Come ! I said to 

 myself, a tiger at least this time, but nothing 

 appeared, and as the noise seemed to be con- 

 centrated at one spot I went to the place. I 

 found my host and his dogs assembled round a 

 hole in the ground, into which some animal had 

 evidently bolted. The scene was most ludicrous, 



