56 



Unexplored Spain 



leave endless scope for decision. Our first rule in all such cases 

 is to get close in, risk what it may. Hence, while my com- 

 panions separated, as before, to encircle the covert from right and 

 left, the writer crept forward yard by yard till a fairly broad and 

 convenient open suggested the final stand. 



Not ten minutes had elapsed, nor had a sound reached my ears, 

 when as by magic the figure of a majestic stag filled a glade on 

 the left — what a picture, as with head erect he daintily picked his 

 unconscious way ! Clearly he suspected nothing here ; but, 

 having got sense, sight, or scent of Juan far beyond, was astutely 

 moving away, with intelligent anticipation, to safer retreat. The 

 shot was of the simplest, and merely black antlers crowned with 

 triple ivory tips marked the fatal point among deep green rushes. 

 Now when two big stags fraternise, as they frequently do, it 

 usually happens that, when pressed, both animals will finally seek 

 the same exit, even though a shot has already been fired there. 

 I had accordingly instructed the keepers that in the event of my 

 firing, each should discharge his gun in the air, at the same time 

 loosing one dog. The expected shots now rang out, presently 

 followed by a crashing in the brushwood. This proved to be 

 caused by a handful of hinds with, alas ! the loose dog baying at 

 their heels. The adverse odds had fallen to zero, till Juan, 

 divining what had occurred, fired again and slipt the other dog. 

 Anxious minutes slowly passed while my two biped sleuth-hounds 

 on the other side gradually, yard by yard, made good their 

 advance ; for the wit and wiles, the practised cunning of an old 

 stag when thus cornered, need every scrap of our human skill to 

 out-general, and nothing to spare at that. But that skill was not 

 at fault to-day, and in the thick of the manclia, 

 Manuel presently "jumped" the recusant hart 

 from almost beneath his feet, and his view- 

 halloa reached expectant ears. 



Then, within a few yards of the spot where 

 No. 1 had silently appeared, out bounced No. 2, 

 but in widely different style. In huge bounds, 

 with head and neck horizontal and antlers laid 

 flat aback, he covered the open like a racer. The 

 first shot got in too far back, but the second 

 went right, and the two friends lay not divided in death. Both 

 were coronados (triple -crowned), indeed the second carried 



