IBEX-SHOOTING IN SPAIN. 153 



dreaded pair was reported to be ascending towards our 

 eyry, the stampede was electric — each man seized his gun 

 and all disappeared like rabbits among the rocks. The 

 incident serves to show the effective power wielded by this 

 fine corps in rural Spain. 



The conformation of this sierra was simple — on the 

 north side the slope was gradual, though abrupt : on the 

 south almost perpendicular : that is, it formed a sheer 

 rock-wall some three miles long and perhaps 2,000 feet 

 high, measuring from the head of the talus.* We found 

 here a herd of nearly a score of ibex, ensconced in well- 

 frequented lairs among the loose rocks and piornales along 

 the highest ridge (they had not been disturbed for 

 months), and on so limited an area felt sure of more 

 certain success than on the boundless sierras of Gredos, 

 with their snow- sanctuaries always open to the ibex. But 

 matters were not so simple, nor were the goats. Here, 

 too, they had their sanctuaries. We will not weary the 

 reader with merely sporting detail, but go at once to the 

 point. After being "hustled" for two or three days 

 (during which the big males always managed to keep out 

 of shot), the ibex-leaders evidently realized the gravity of 

 the situation : a vote of urgency was carried, and the 

 Eiscos declared in a state of siege. The space at their 

 command was limited : there were no snow-fields 

 available: and they resolved to seek safety in those 

 impenetrable rock-walls and canchos which flanked their 

 stronghold on the south. Into these they retreated : and 

 from them, no power of ours could dislodge the ibex, 

 though among the slanting canchos on the western flank 

 our intrepid rock-climbers despatched a couple of slouching 

 wolves. By sheer force of reasoning power and sagacity, 



* The highest point of the Biscos appeared to be about 7,000 ft., 

 and commanded a superb panorama of the whole Sierra de Gredos, 

 with its towering peaks and snow-fields stretching away to their apex 

 in the Plaza de Almanzor. With regard to altitudes, we here write with 

 some uncertainty, as our aneroid, after being depressed to twenty-one 

 inches, appeared to exhibit some irregularities, and had possibly 

 suffered some internal or constitutional injury. 



