128 Unexplored Spain 



midway between our two shooting-lodges and distant between 

 two and three hours' ride from either. Thus every morning's 

 goose-shooting presupposes some fairly arduous work. It means 

 being in the saddle by 4 a.m. with its resultant discomforts and 

 a lonfj scramblino; ride in the dark. Hence the disgust is 

 proportionate when all that work is thrown away in such insane 

 style. Never again for any tyro on earth, though he be our 

 dearest friend, never will the authors turn out at 3 a.m., abusing 

 with clattering hoof the silence and repose of midnight watch and 

 the hours designed for rest — never again, unless alone or with a 

 known and reliable companion. 



A word now as to the " decoys." These, in design, are 

 American — first observed and brought across from Chicago — cut 

 out of block-tin, formed and painted to resemble a grey-goose. 

 Geese being gregarious by nature are peculiarly susceptible to 

 the attractions of decoys. Hence these tin geese have a mar- 

 vellous effect when silhouetted on the skyline of a sand-ridge, being 

 conspicuous for enormous distances and the only " living " objects 

 on miles of desert. They are most deadly before sunrise, after 

 which they are apt to glint too much despite a coating of dried 

 mud. As daylight broadens, incoming geese are apt to be 

 disconcerted at losing sight of their supposed friends, which event 

 must occur as each decoy falls end-on — one can interpret the 

 hurried queries and expletives of the puzzled phalanx at that 

 mysterious disappearance ! For these reasons it is desirable 

 as soon as possible to supplement the decoys with, and finally to 

 substitute for them, the real article, that is, the newly shot geese, 

 set up in life-like attitudes by aid of twigs brought for the 

 purpose. Fallen birds must, in any case, be set up as fast as 

 gathered ; if left spread-eagled as they fell, inevitably the next 

 comers are scared. The more numerous and life-like the decoys, 

 the more certain are the geese to come in with confidence and 

 security. 



Naturally great care must be used in getting into and out 

 of one's hide to avoid breaking down its loose and crumbling- 

 substance. But it is of first importance quickly to gather and 

 prop up the dead. A winged goose walking away should be 

 stopped with a charge of No. 6 in the head. 



As illustrating the life-like eHect produced by our tin decoys, 

 on one occasion a friend, after firing both barrels, was watching 



