DEER-STALKING AND " STILL-HUNTING." 435 



Caramba ! Not for long did such doubts torment us, for, on 

 cutting off the spoor outside the covert, the tell-tale blood 

 was seen on the cistus-twigs and on the sandy soil. We 

 followed the wounded beast for four hours through possible 

 and even impossible places. His pace never slackened — he 

 seemed to be bound for Portugal. I suggested slipping a 

 couple of dogs ; but the idea was overruled. " The 

 tunante is struck in the haunch," said they, " and before 

 dogs, would run for hours : he would reach the big pinales, 

 six leagues away. Our chance consists in his keeping the 

 more open ground and smaller thickets. Before sun- 

 down we will overtake him ; but then, you must put your 

 bullet in a better place." These bloodhounds never 

 doubted — on we went, patiently following the now easier 

 trail, and before sundown we did overtake him. Then, as 

 he rushed from a clump of big bulrushes in a shallow 

 lagoon, where the fevered beast had lain down in the 

 water, the express bullet lodged in el mismissimo corazon^ 

 in his very heart : and the panniers were balanced with 

 two of the heaviest old stags that ever roamed on Anda- 

 lucian plain. 



The next day, a downpour of rain just at the critical 

 moment — when game and other wild beasts are returning 

 to their lairs — obliterated every rastro, and a fresh strata- 

 gem had to be employed. This was to find and rouse the 

 stag, and then to follow the trail — necessarily a longer and 

 more delicate operation than that last described, since the 

 suspicions of the animal are thoroughly aroused ; he is 

 alarmed, and traverses great distances ere again he goes to 

 cover. He is, moreover, apt to go away very wild on the 

 second approach. The half-inundated condition of the 

 country, however, was in our favour ; and late in the 

 afternoon, having traced a stag for many weary leagues, I 

 had the satisfaction of pulling down a beast of "royal" 

 rank by a very long shot. 



The next day — and the last of the season — might have 

 been one of those contributory to the Noachian deluge. 

 Again, despite wind and weather, a venado of eleven points 

 rewarded our efforts. This stag gave us much trouble : 



F F 2 



