306 IN THE LAND OF THE BORA. 



a regular marquee. We turned iu early — the 

 strangers with, great hopes for the morrow, in 

 which, however, I did not share. 



Next morning an hour's ride brought us to 

 the bottom of the ascent to our posts. The 

 arrangement of the beats was left to the gen- 

 darmes, and this time they decided to place us 

 along the mouth of the first of the two valleys 

 under the Botin. I did not think much of the 

 arrangement, so I volunteered to take the left 

 flank, and come in with the beaters. I knew 

 my position was a very likely one for an old 

 single buck, especially if the men were careful 

 in beating out the MaligradaC, which was just 

 before me. Alas ! they never touched it, and 

 beat very badly, the men close under the cliffs 

 being far in front of the others. As I came up 

 in line with these last I heard a shot, and directly 

 afterwards a buck galloped along under the cliffs. 

 The range was about two hundred and fifty yards, 

 and shooting at a running chamois is a waste of 

 time ; but, nevertheless, I did try the shot, allow- 

 ing a little too much for his speed, as the result 

 proved, for he wheeled sharply towards me, and 

 finally escaped untouched. At the range, and 

 with my weapon, it would of course have been 

 a mere fluke ; so, as I can claim no credit for it, 

 I may be allowed to express my conviction that 

 that buck had a very narrow shave. Hearing 



