194 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



running knots attached to it, so as to hold the quails by their 

 heads. We proceeded to the banks of the river, which was 

 here full of little islets, formed by the sinuosities of the 

 stream, covered by low underwood and bushes, where the 

 quails were most abundant. Presently a rapid fire com- 

 menced along the line of sportsmen. Every one did as he 

 pleased, and never cared about his neighbour, with all that 

 liberty of action and impatience of control so characteristic 

 of the Spaniard. Taking example from them, by degrees I 

 found myself separated from my companions, and with the 

 view of seeking some shade, or at all events some variety, I 

 quitted the borders of the river, and entered an immense 

 field of Indian corn (maize), which here grew to a height of 

 ten or twelve feet. The quails were quite as numerous here 

 as in the underwood, but more difficult to shoot, as they flew 

 between the stalks of corn without rising above them. 



I had been lost as it were about twenty minutes in this 

 miniature forest when my dog made a point, the twentieth, 

 perhaps, in ten minutes, a quail rose, and I fired. The report 

 of my gun was answered by a sound at once hoarse and inar- 

 ticulate, but yet loud and terrible. I felt the ground tremble 

 beneath my feet; the maize gave way before some advancing 

 mass; and at not more than ten paces from me I perceived a 

 furious bull, which, without knowing, I had wounded by my 

 small shot. He stopped dead short, however, upon seeing 

 me, but lowered his horns in a menacing manner, and began 

 to scrape up the earth furiously with his fore feet, filling the 

 surrounding air with dust. Instinct warned me that flight 

 would be fatal. I remained firm in my original position, 

 with my gun to. my shoulder, and ready to give him the 

 second barrel in the eyes, if necessary; but whether his anger 

 was gradually appeased, or observing my attitude, he had 

 time for useful reflection, I know not; for after having 

 roared his full, made a deep hole in the ground with his 





