68 Unexplored Spain 



Majada REAL.-^This is the one lowland covert where shots 

 are permissible at incoming game. Being flanked on the west 

 by gigantic sand-dunes, the guns (under certain conditions) 

 may be lined out a couple of miles away, along the outskirts of 

 the next nearest covert — the idea being to take the stags as 

 they canter across the intervening dunes. The conditions 

 referred to are (l) a straight east wind, and (2) reliable guns. 

 Obviously the element of clanger under this plan is vastly 

 increased, and as the keepers are responsible for any accident, 

 they are ]-eluctant to execute the drive thus save only wdien 

 their confidence in the guns is complete.^ A careless man on a 

 grouse-drive is dangerous enough ; but here, with rifle-bullets, a 

 reckless shot may spell death. The " in-drive," nevertheless, is 

 both curious and interesting. A spectacle one does not forget is 

 aflbrded when the ftir-away skyline of dazzling sand is suddenly 

 surmounted by spreading antlers, and some great hart, perhaps 

 a dozen of them, come trotting all unconscious directly towards 

 the eager eyes watching and waiting. The effect of a shot 

 under these conditions is frequently to turn the game off" at 

 right angles. The deer then hold a course parallel with the 

 covert- side, thus running the gauntlet of several guns, and 

 the question of " first blood " may become a moot point — 

 easily determined, however, by reference to the spoor. Boar 

 naturally are averse to take such open ground ; ])ut when 

 severely pressed, we have on occasion seen them scurrying 

 across these Saharan sands, a singular sight under the 

 midday sun. 



To introspective minds two points may have showed up 

 in these rough outline illustrations. First, that the best stags 

 are ever the earliest amove when danger threatens. These not 

 seldom escape ere a slovenly gunner is aware that the beat 

 has begun. The moral is clear. Secondly, as these bigger 

 and older beasts exhibit fraternal tendencies, it follows that a 

 first chance (whether availed or bungled) need not necessarily 

 be the last. 



Besides deer, it is quite usual that wild-boar, as w^ell as 

 lynxes and other minor animals, come forward on these 

 " drives." The divergent nature of pig, however, renders a 



^ Not a single accident, great or small, has occurred during the authors' long tenure of 

 the Goto Douana. 



