68 Unexplored Spain 
Masapa Reat.—This is the one lowland covert where shots 
are permissible at incoming game. Being flanked on the west 
by gigantic sand-dunes, the guns (under certain conditions) 
may be lined out a couple of miles away, along the outskirts of 
the next nearest covert—the idea being to take the stags as 
they canter across the intervening dunes. The conditions 
referred to are (1) a straight east wind, and (2) reliable guns. 
Obviously the element of danger under this plan is vastly 
increased, and as the keepers are responsible for any accident, 
they are reluctant to execute the drive thus save only when 
their confidence in the guns is complete.t A careless man on a 
grouse-drive is dangerous enough; but here, with rifle-bullets, a 
reckless shot may spell death. The “in-drive,” nevertheless, is 
both curious and interesting. A spectacle one does not forget is 
afforded when the far-away skyline of dazzling sand is suddenly 
surmounted by spreading antlers, and some great hart, perhaps 
a dozen of them, come trotting all unconscious directly towards 
the eager eyes watching and waiting. The effect of a shot 
under these conditions is frequently to turn the game off at 
right angles. The deer then hold a course parallel with the 
covert-side, thus running the gauntlet of several guns, and 
the question of “first blood” may become a moot point— 
easily determined, however, by reference to the spoor. Boar 
naturally are averse to take such open ground; but when 
severely pressed, we have on occasion seen them scurrying 
across these Saharan sands, a singular sight under the 
midday sun. 
To introspective minds two points may have showed up 
in these rough outline illustrations. First, that the best stags 
are ever the earliest amove when danger threatens. These not 
seldom escape ere a slovenly gunner is aware that the beat 
has begun. The moral is clear. Secondly, as these bigger 
and older beasts exhibit fraternal tendencies, it follows that a 
first chance (whether availed or bungled) need not necessarily 
be the last. 
Besides deer, it is quite usual that wild-boar, as well as 
lynxes and other minor animals, come forward on _ these 
“drives.” The divergent nature of pig, however, renders a 
1 Not a single accident, great or small, has occurred during the authors’ long tenure of 
the Coto Dofiana. 
