432 WILD SPAIN. 



has dipped the crest : but the second barrel, after a flying 

 run to the ridge, affords more deliberate aim at about 

 120 yards. " He has it," quietly remarks my companion, 

 and as the galloping stag displays his extended flank, the 

 blood-patch on his side is clearly marked, but too far bach. 

 Poor beast ! though fatally struck, there is no chance to 

 recover him to-night, for already the sun dips behind the 

 distant pinales — it is too late to think of following him, and 

 sadly we return to our horses. Ten miles to ride, and the 

 evening spent discussing " muckle harts " and their 

 haunts on the neighbouring wilds. 



All night wind and rain : at daybreak the clouds 

 indicated better things, but after a few fitful gleams of 

 sunlight, the deluge set in once more. This and the next 

 day were very bad : — wasted. It was only possible to pass 

 the time shooting a few rabbits for the use of the rancho — 

 the partridges were all paired long ago ; but a lucky shot at 

 a nervous band of sand-grouse secured four, and in some 

 rush-clad backwaters we picked up a few snipe and two 

 or three couples of wild-duck. 



Next morning, at dawn, we set out to look for deer, the 

 pannier-ponies following at a distance, with instructions 

 never to come up unless shots had been fired. Facing the 

 gale, we struck out across far-extending heaths, where the 

 scrub, as a rule, is of convenient height for shooting over, 

 but where, in the hollows or dells, are found deep thickets, 

 or manchas. These jungle-patches cover from one or two 

 up to thirty acres in extent : here the growth of thorny 

 shrub and pampas-grass is much higher, thicker, and more 

 densely entwined, affording secure " lying " for deer and 

 other animals. 



No rain had fallen since the early hours of the morning : 

 hence the light, sodden soil exhibited the traces of every 

 beast which had traversed it to perfection. It was some 

 time before we found tracks large enough to betoken one of 

 our friends, the tunantes. The brothers had followed two 

 or three rastros for short distances, but were not satisfied 

 with their importance. Small stags, hinds, lynx, fox and 

 boar had wandered hither and thither, and were now doubt- 



