Sierra de Gredos 219 



awesome shelves with a 500-feet drop below, a touch from Ramon 

 drew my attention to a truly magnificent old ibex-ram in full 

 view, quietly skipping from crag to crag some 300 yards 

 above. So slow and deliberate were his movements, with 

 frequent halts to gaze, that time was allowed to gain a rational 

 position and to enjoy for several minutes a glorious view through 

 binoculars. Twice he halted in front of small snow-slopes, against 

 which those curving horns were set off in j^erfect detail. Then 

 with measured movements, making good each foot-hold, 

 alternated by marvellous bounds to some rock-point above, the 

 grand wild-goat vanished from view. His course led into a rock- 

 region that already our drivers were encompassing, hence we had 

 strong hopes that we might not have seen the last of him. 



Two herds of ibex, it transpired, were enclosed in this beat ; 

 one comprising nine females and small beasts, the second two 

 with a two-year-old ram ; but our big friend was seen no more. 



I had, however, enjoyed a scene that w^ent far to comj)ensate 

 for the tribulations it had cost. 



Late that night the two lads who had accompanied A. 

 returned to camp. After riding fifteen hours on Wednesday, he 

 could do no more, slept at a venta, and reached Avila (which he 

 considers twenty leagues from Ornillos, the spot where he left us) 

 at noon on Thursday, where he caught the Sud -express, and 

 to-night will be in Paris. He sent us a few pencilled words, 

 urging us to utmost endeavours with the wild-goats, as this will 

 be in all probability our last charice. I agree, for the natives 

 kill off male and female alike, only a few wily old rams remain, a 

 mere fraction of the stock which formerly existed. The shepherds 

 who come to these high tops to pasture their herds for a few 

 weeks each summer have chances to kill the ibex which they do 

 not neglect. When Don IManuel Silvela, the statesman, was here 

 twenty years ago, some 150 ibex were driven past his post above 

 the Laguna de Gredos. Not a quarter of that number now 

 survive in all the range. 



August 26. — Everything outside the tents was frozen solid 

 last night, but wdtli sunrise the temperature goes up with a 

 bound. We had trout for breakfast, caught by hand from the 

 burn below\ To-day the work was easier, for the two beats were 

 both small and more or less on the same level as our camp. The 

 first lasted five hours, but gave no result. We then moved to 



