158 



WILD SPAIN. 



The next spectacle was less welcome. On the height of 

 the ridge, high above us, we descried against the sky-line 

 the crouching figure of a man, stealthily advancing as 

 though in touch of game. This ill-omened apparition, as 

 the sequel proved, was the key-note of this campaign : the 

 semana santa of Easter-tide had commenced, we were fore- 

 stalled by native cazadores, and a carefully-planned and 

 well-organized exhibition resulted in comparative failure. 



IBEX (FEMALE)— BERMEJA. 



Nor had the danger of this been entirely unforeseen, but 

 adverse circumstances had delayed our movements. 



Despite our local competitors, luck at first seemed in- 

 clined to be propitious. While going to our positions, 

 along the knife-edged spur that enclosed our glen, an ibex 

 fell to the rifle of one of our party, who had come suddenly 

 on five (four good males) quietly feeding in a pine-clad 

 corrie, and a standing shot, at 70 yards, secured one — un- 

 fortunately the only cabra; for, their heads being con- 



