SHOOTING IN CHILE. 195 



open windy day comes_, " up and at ^em/' The reason 

 is that in frosty weather the snipe congregate in some 

 small brook or other sheltered spot, and get up all to- 

 gether_, affording only one or two shots, whereas in 

 boisterous weather they disperse much more, and can get 

 marked down and afford a variety of shots. Any old 

 sportsman will tell you the same. 



By this time I began to think it was about time to 

 look for the whereabouts of Master Jose and the valdi- 

 viano. On my way back I got another brace of part- 

 ridges from the same broken ground as before, though I 

 nearly broke my neck and gun ; for, although my steed 

 stood the first barrel well enough, the report of the 

 second made him twist round like a top, depositing me 

 on the ground and sending my gun flying. I held on to 

 the chicote or lash of the reins, however, which probably 

 saved me another little walk of five miles. I thought I 

 had missed my way, when — ah, welcome sight ! — I 

 observed Jose's fire, as a thin curl of smoke went floating 

 up to the sky. The doctor, as I expected, had not 

 arrived, being most probably miles away, so I and Jose 

 went to work. 



How I remember every detail of that lunch ! how 

 ^very stick and stone of that scene is photographed in 

 my mind's eye ! The place was thoroughly Chilian — the 

 undulating hills covered with broken rocks of granite, 

 and just beginning to put on their livery of green, the 

 snow-clad Andes at the back, the broad potreros divided 

 by regular mud walls, and carefully irrigated by esequias, 

 combined to form a scene of natural and artificial wild- 

 ness that I have seen in no other land ; while Jose, in 

 his huge hat, many-coloured poncho, extraordinary 

 gaiters and spurs, as he lay watching the pot of valdi- 



o 2 



