364 



WILD SPAIN. 



hurried off up the sloping dune ; otters, genets and badgers 

 were seen at various points, while coots and bitterns, rails, 

 crakes, and waterhens napped about, half-dazed with 

 fright. Over the smoking brakes swept buzzards and 

 marsh-harriers which, forgetting their fears in opportunity, 

 pounced boldly on the homeless and helpless. 



As soon as it was over, we went eagerly to examine the 

 tracks of the big stag. Yes ! blood was there sure enough 

 — whole streams of it ; but the verdict of the guardas was 

 prompt and emphatic — "that stag you will never get. 

 See ! the blood is all at one side. The bullet has merely 

 grazed his off-flank, causing a flesh-wound which bleeds 

 much, but does no vital harm." They were right. Im- 

 pelled by shame and self-reproach, we followed the trail for 

 miles ; but though we twice sighted our quarry afar, it was 

 evident he had sustained no serious injury, and as he 

 headed for a wild region where leagues of jungle afforded 

 secure refuge, we were fain, at dusk, to acknowledge defeat, 

 and to leave him in peace. 



Now for the moral — though perhaps it hardly needs 

 pointing. Never attempt to sketch, or otherwise play the 

 fool, when every energy should be concentrated on the 

 sport in hand. One thing well done is as much as poor 

 mortals are capable of at one time. 



Thus, amidst varied and abundant sport, fun and good- 

 fellowship, amidst lovely scenes and a glorious climate, 

 sped all too quickly those happy days in Doiiana — some 

 devoted to big game, some to small ; on others we divided 

 forces, one party going to the partridges, or quail, another 

 preferring wildfowl ; while those who had confidence in 

 their skill with the rifle elected to rastrear — that is, to track 

 a deer to his lair, following the rastro, or spoor, of some 

 big hart, perhaps for leagues, across the broken plains and 

 corrales, with only the uncertain prospect of a difficult, 

 often impossible, snap-shot after all. But there is a 

 reward in seeing the skill in woodcraft displayed by the 

 Spanish guardas, who seem to diagnose by intuition the 

 unfulfilled ideas and desires which, some hours previously, 

 have been passing through the mind of the hart, whose 



