392 SKETCHES OF SPORT IN HUNGARY. 



devoted to our first journey, we met Count Hans Wilczek 

 and the painter Pausinger; so our party was now complete, 

 and in a few minutes the vessel got under weigh. Besides 

 some jagers we also took with us the son of Hodek the 

 naturalist, who had already accompanied me during my first 

 trip down the Danube in 1878. 



We soon made ourselves at home on board the comfortable 

 vessel, and after a hasty lunch went on deck to observe the 

 country through which we were so rapidly passing. The 

 scenery was all familiar, yet how different it had looked 

 in that glorious springtide when nature in the full bloom 

 of her beauty had greeted our small but pleasant shooting- 

 party. Two years and a half had passed since that time, 

 and heavy grey clouds, leafless trees, bare fields, and a cold 

 north-easter had taken the place of spring. The Danube 

 alone remained steadfast, and in quiet profound majesty still 

 patiently rolled its waters towards the far east. 



There was but little life on the river, the waterfowl had 

 flown to other regions, and nothing but dusky birds of prey 

 and magpies showed themselves on its banks. In the evening, 

 however, the scene became more smiling and pleasant, the 

 principal reason being that the further south we pushed the 

 warmer it became, especially late in the afternoon. Large 

 flights of Ducks and a flock of Lapwings flying southwards on 

 their winter migration also lent some ornithological interest 

 to this stretch of the journey, while the sinking of the fiery 

 globe of the sun through the narrow bands of cloud delighted 

 all of us, my friend Pausinger in particular. It was one of 

 those lovely evenings such as are only to be seen in easterly 

 lands, and more especially on the plains of beautiful Hungary. 



After passing a long time amidst the monotony of civilized 

 life and the perpetual uninspiriting grey of the west, one feels 

 a longing to return to those primitive regions, where alone 

 one can gaze upon the grandeurs of the glorious colour and 



