58 Unexplored Spain 



tinea teus and their natural flight is up-wind. But as it is 

 obviously impossible to place guns to windward, the operation 

 resolves itself into moving the game — dead against its instinct 

 and set inclination — down-wind, or at least on a " half- wind." 

 Tlie latter is easier as an operation, but less effective in result : 

 since the guns must be posted in echelon — otherwise each " gives 

 the wind" to his next neighbour below. Consequently the 

 firing-zone of each is greatly circumscribed. 



In practice, therefore, the game has to be moved or cajoled — 

 it can hardly be said to be " driven " — into going, at least so 

 far, down -wind by skilled handUng of the driving- line and by 

 intelligent co-operation on the part of each individual driver. In 

 the great mountain-drives of the sierras (elsewhere described) 

 packs of hounds, being carefully trained, perform infinite service. 

 Always under control of their huntsman, they systematically 

 search out thickets impenetrable to man and push all game 

 forward. In the Goto Donana, our scratch-pack of i^odencos and 

 mongrels of every degree, run riot unchecked at hind, hare, or 

 rabbit, giving tongue in all directions at once, and probably do as 

 much harm as good. 



Our mounted keepers, however, expert in divining afar the 

 yet unformed designs of the game ahead, are quick to counter 

 each move by a feint or demonstration behind ; and when 

 desirable, to forestall attempted escape by resolute riding. The 

 Spanish are a nation of horsemen, and a fine sight it is to see 

 these wild guardas galloping helter-skelter through scrub that 

 reaches the saddle — especially the w^ay they ride down a wounded 

 stag or boar with the garrocha — a long wooden lance. 



Despite it all, however, many stags break back. Riding 

 with the beaters it is instructive to watch the manoeuvres of 

 an old stag as, sinking from sight, he couches among quite low 

 scrub on some hillock, or stands statuesque with horns aback 

 hiding behind a clump of tall tree-heaths — alert all the while, 

 stealthily to shift his position as yapping j^odencos on one side or 

 the other may suggest — and watching each opportunity to evade 

 the encompassing danger. Now a stretch of denser jungle obstructs 

 the advancing line. The beaters are forced apart to pass it, and 

 a gap or two yawns in the attack. Instantly that introspective 

 wild beast realises his advantage — he springs to sight, ignores 

 Spanish expletives that scorch the scrub, and in giant bounds 



