After Chamois in the Asturias 289 



which we had ascended ; while in front, by stepping but a few 

 paces across the narrow neck, we could look down into the depths 

 of the gorge whence the quarry was to approach, as we feebly 

 attempt to show in diagram annexed. 



The panorama from these altitudes was superb beyond words. 

 AVe were here far above the stratum of mist which enshrouded 

 our camp and the sierra for some distance above it. We looked 

 down upon a billowy sea of white clouds pierced here and there 

 by the summits and ridges of outstanding crags like islands on a 

 surf-swept coast. 



Of bird-life there was no sign beyond choughs and a soaring- 

 eagle that our guides called aguila pintada (Aquila honellii, 

 immature). There are wild-boar in the forests far below, with 

 occasional wolves and yet more occasional bear. 



Hark I the distant cries of beaters break the solemn silence 

 and announce that operations have begun. Almost instantly 

 thereafter the rattle of loose stones dislodged by the feet of 

 moving chamois came up from beneath our eyrie. So near was 

 the sound that expectation waxed tense aud eyes scanned each 

 possible exit. 



Then from the heights on the left, and already above us, 

 sprang into view a band of five chamois lightly skipping from 

 ledge to ledge with an agility that cannot be conveyed in words. 

 The Conde and I fired simultaneously. The beast I had selected 

 pulled himself convulsively together, sprang in air, and then fell 

 backwards down the abyss whence he had just emerged. So 

 abrupt was the skyline that no second barrel was possible ; but 

 while we yet gazed into space the rattle of falling stones right 

 behhid attracted attention in that direction, and a chamois was 

 bounding across that loose moraine (or " canal " as it is here 

 called) by which we had ascended. He flew those jumbled rocks 

 as though they were a ballroom floor, oflering at best but a snap- 

 shot, and the bullet found the beast already protected by a rock. 

 Hardly, however, had cartridges been replaced than three more 

 Rebccos followed along precisely the same track, and this time 

 each gun secured one buck. 



Note that all these last four animals had come in from our 

 right, that is, they had escaladed the " cathedral " ; though by 

 what earthly means they could surmount sheer rock-walls devoid 

 of visible crack or crevice passes human comprehension. For 



u 



