56 Unexplored Spain 
leave endless scope for decision. Our first rule in all such cases 
is to get close in, risk what it may. Hence, while my com- 
panions separated, as before, to encircle the covert from right and 
left, the writer crept forward yard by yard till a fairly broad and 
convenient open suggested the final stand. 
Not ten minutes had elapsed, nor had asound reached my ears, 
when as by magic the figure of a majestic stag filled a glade on 
the left—what a picture, as with head erect he daintily picked his 
unconscious way! Clearly he suspected nothing here; but, 
having got sense, sight, or scent of Juan far beyond, was astutely 
moving away, with intelligent anticipation, to safer retreat. The 
shot was of the simplest, and merely black antlers crowned with 
triple ivory tips marked the fatal point among deep green rushes. 
Now when two big stags fraternise, as they frequently do, it 
usually happens that, when pressed, both animals will finally seek 
the same exit, even though a shot has already been fired there. 
I had accordingly instructed the keepers that in the event of my 
firing, each should discharge his gun in the air, at the same time 
loosing one dog. The expected shots now rang out, presently 
followed by a crashing in the brushwood. This proved to be 
caused by a handful of hinds with, alas! the loose dog baying at 
their heels. The adverse odds had fallen to zero, till Juan, 
divining what had occurred, fired again and slipt the other dog. 
Anxious minutes slowly passed while my two biped sleuth-hounds 
on the other side gradually, yard by yard, made good their 
advance ; for the wit and wiles, the practised cunning of an old 
stag when thus cornered, need every scrap of our human skill to 
out-general, and nothing to spare at that. But that skill was not 
at fault to-day, and in the thick of the mancha, 
Manuel presently “jumped” the recusant hart 
from almost beneath his feet, and his view- 
halloa reached expectant ears. 
Then, within a few yards of the spot where 
No. 1 had silently appeared, out bounced No. 2, 
but in widely different style. In huge bounds, 
with head and neck horizontal and antlers laid 
flat aback, he covered the open like a racer. The 
first shot got in too far back, but the second 
went right, and the two friends lay not divided in death. Both 
were coronados (triple-crowned), indeed the second carried 
