124 



Unexplored Spain 



a fairer mark when tliey next wheeled round. Then two, and 

 often three, great geese came hurtling downwards, to fall with 

 resoundinjT thuds behind. Few mistakes occurred this morninor 

 and scarce a chance was missed. But never could we succeed 

 in working-in the two doubles at once ! The cramped space 

 forbade that. The hole, having been dug for one, gave no freedom 

 of action for two guns ; its floor, moreover, had now become a 

 compound of sticky glutinous clay a foot deep, and that further 

 hampered movements. Only one gun could work the second 

 barrel. 



After each shot, one of us jumped out and propped up the 

 fallen geese as decoys. To leave them lying about all-ends-up 

 has a disastrous effect. 



Ere the " flight " ceased we had five-and-twenty greylags 

 down around our hide, besides several others that had fallen at 

 some distance, duly marked by the keepers who now galloped off" 

 to gather these — say two mule -loads of geese. The discovery 

 of that lonely " sanding-place '' had had a concrete reward. 



