24 HUNTING CAMPS. 



which precludes the likelihood of further mishaps. For a 

 couple of miles we travel thus quietly upon our way, flush- 

 ing a large number of snipe and two or three companies of 

 Chilian widgeon ; then, leaving the river, I once more ride 

 up the barranca to spy the tableland. 



It is a fortunate move, for while I am still fifty feet 

 from the top, I hear the challenging neigh of a guanaco 

 buck. I leap off, pull the reins over the cruzado's head, and 

 see that thoroughly reliable animal at once turn his atten- 

 tion to tearing up mouthfuls of grass. Sure that, notwith- 

 standing his uncomfortable position upon a hillside sloping 

 some thirty degrees, he will not move many paces away until 

 I return, I creep upwards until I can look over the edge of 

 the cliff. About three hundred yards ahead a herd of some 

 thirty guanaco are standing. The wind, though it might 

 be more favourable, will probably serve, and the guanaco 

 are now moving away across the mesa. I run along under 

 the cliff to a bush, which I have marked as the handiest ; 

 when I reach it I slowly raise my head to reconnoitre. The 

 guanaco are grouped together about two hundred yards off. 

 I pick out a good buck standing alone ; a yeld doe would 

 be better for my purpose, but I never could bring myself 

 to shoot at one as long as there was a buck to take its place, 

 and after waiting a moment to get my breath, I press the 

 trigger. The buck gives a convulsive start and dashes for- 

 ward as an animal often will when shot through the heart. 



Knowing he will need no second bullet, I transfer my 

 attention to the rest. At first, not having located the shot, 

 they bunch together in alarm, and then one breaks away on 

 the left. As soon as he is clear, I swing my sight on to him 

 but do not fire, for I recollect that it is already late in the 

 afternoon, and by morning the foxes will have spoilt the 

 meat, for I cannot carry more than one animal to camp. 

 The herd break in all directions, a yearling and a doe come 

 straight at me, I rise and they swerve, a buck crashes down 



