330 THE IMAGE OF WAR 



and Head of the Natural History Museum at the 

 University of Coimbra, wrote to me : " C. hispanica 

 is here represented by two specimens — one young, 

 and the other an adult male with horns 20 inches 

 long. There is also a photograph of a female, cap- 

 tured in 1890 near the habitation of the guards of 

 the Serra do Gerez, which was probably in very bad 

 health to let itself be caught. After that year I do 

 not know of any other specimen having been caught 

 or killed in the country." 



I think it is hardly necessary for me to say that 

 I did not journey up to the Gerez Mountains. 



The bad luck that had prompted my coming out 

 to Portugal remained with me to the end, for, when 

 I had passed the whole winter in the country with 

 the intention of going on to Spain as soon as the 

 snow was sufficiently melted for me to try my luck 

 in the mountains, and had found a companion who ■ 

 knew Spain well, I received a telegram at dinner 

 at beautiful Busaco on the eve of my departure for 

 Avila : *' Tents not arrived." Within a few weeks 

 I had left Portugal. 



There is a sequel to this story. After my de- 

 parture from Portugal my tents did arrive in Spain, 

 where, I may add, they were promptly forfeited to 

 Government, a packet of rifle cartridges having been 

 detected by the Custom - house searchers inside an 

 old boot — an excellent arrangement which had been 

 made by a Levantine camp - servant of mine at 

 the end of an earlier trip. However, not much 

 harm was done, as they were put up to auction 

 and the entire camp outfit bought in by my friend 

 for some forty shillings ! 



