THE IBEX-HUNTER'S BETROTHAL. 321 



i 



does not take place till some days later. After the dichos 

 the rest of that day is spent in conviviality. 



Bernal owned plenty of goats, but, being a lad of some 

 originality, he determined to give his " novia " something 

 different to the regulation marriage-feast of stewed kid. 

 Concha's nuptials should mark an epoch in the annals of 

 Valdama — nothing less than the venison of a wild ibex 

 should betoken his plighted troth. He was a mighty 

 hunter, and Concha's first offering at his hands should 

 be one appropriate to his fame and skill with the rifle-ball. 



The season was mid- winter and the snow lay deep and 

 treacherous on all the great sierras that overhang his 

 native village. Few are venturesome enough to brave 

 the dangers and hard work that the pursuit of ibex in 

 winter must entail. All the more reason why Bernal 

 should distinguish himself, and all the more acceptable 

 the gift. 



On the morning before the ceremony of the dichos, he 

 set out at daybreak ; his gun slung on his shoulder, a 

 crust of brown bread, some meat and olives in his. 

 " alforjas," and his favourite dog " Vasco " at his heel. 

 As the earlier risers among the damsels of the hamlet 

 wended their way towards the well for the day's supply of 

 water, each with a big brown cantaro poised on her head, 

 they lingered to scan the hill and watch Bernal' s retreating 

 figure as he leaped upwards from rock to rock, ascending 

 towards the snowy pinnacles of Las Lanzas. Soon he 

 disappeared from view, turning off into the snow-filled 

 gullet of the Salto del lobo — the wolf's leap. 



The day was bright and glorious as a winter's day in 

 Spain can be, but before dusk heavy cloud-banks had 

 darkened the western horizon, and the sun sank in lurid 

 light amidst gathering murk that boded ill for the night. 

 Darkness had set in, but Bernal had not returned. Hour 

 after hour passed by without sign of him, and Concha's 

 anxiety grew more and more intense. Not all the 

 sympathy of her maiden friends could cheer her ; but 

 some consolation the poor girl tried to find in the 

 assurances of the rough hunters who came to comfort 



Y 



