FIFTH DAY. 93 
merrily about. In the darkness of the gathering night we 
all took it to be the much-desired Red-footed or Evening 
Falcon ; so I jumped out of the carriage, fired at it, and 
missed with both barrels, whereupon the foolish creature flew 
past much nearer, and I killed it with a lucky shot; but on 
proudly hurrying to my spoil, which I imagined to be of such 
interest, I found, instead of a noble falcon, only a common 
Nightjar ! 
Somewhat disappointed, we drove on again, and soon reached 
a high embankment extending along the right side of the 
Bega Canal. Steep as its slope was, we had to drive up it, 
and our road now ran a little way along this dyke. ‘Towards 
the plain on our right were old willows at the base of the 
embankment, and on the opposite side of the canal rose 
splendid woods. We then crossed a bridge to a large island 
formed by an arm of the Danube, falsely called a canal, and to 
which channel the Hungarians give the name of Bega Duna. 
A road running along another embankment, which stretches 
diagonally through the island, now conducted us among very 
beautiful “auen ;” and after a while we got to a wretched 
hut, round which crouched some exceedingly wild-looking 
fellows with their dogs, and in a few minutes more we arrived 
at our vessel, after a four hours’ drive. 
It had meanwhile got quite dark, for the sky was covered 
with heavy clouds, and not a star gladdened us with its silent 
splendour. 
On reaching the deck we hastened into the snug saloon 
and had dinner served, and there is no dwelling on shore 
which seems so home-like and comfortable after a hard day 
as a pretty saloon on board-ship. 
Dinner being over, numerous measurements were taken, 
diaries written up, and notes exchanged, over black coffee 
and one of Homeyer’s cigars, and by ten o’clock all the 
inmates of the steamer were fast asleep. 
