128 Unexplored Spain 
midway between our two shooting-lodges and distant between 
two and three hours’ ride from either. Thus every morning’s 
goose-shooting presupposes some fairly arduous work. It means 
being in the saddle by 4 a.m. with its resultant discomforts and 
a long scrambling ride in the dark. Hence the disgust is 
proportionate when all that work is thrown away in such insane 
style. Never again for any tyro on earth, though he be our 
dearest friend, never will the authors turn out at 3 a.m., abusing 
with clattering hoof the silence and repose of midnight watch and 
the hours designed for rest—never again, unless alone or with a 
known and reliable companion. 
A word now as to the “decoys.” These, in design, are 
American—first observed and brought across from Chicago—cut 
out of block-tin, formed and painted to resemble a grey-goose. 
Geese being gregarious by nature are peculiarly susceptible to 
the attractions of decoys. Hence these tin geese have a mar- 
vellous effect when silhouetted on the skyline of a sand-ridge, being 
conspicuous for enormous distances and the only “living” objects 
on miles of desert. They are most deadly before sunrise, after 
which they are apt to glint too much despite a coating of dried 
mud. As daylight broadens, incoming geese are apt to be 
disconcerted at losing sight of their supposed friends, which event 
must occur as each decoy falls end-on—one can interpret the 
hurried queries and expletives of the puzzled phalanx at that 
mysterious disappearance! For these reasons it is desirable 
as soon as possible to supplement the decoys with, and finally to 
substitute for them, the real article, that is, the newly shot geese, 
set up in life-like attitudes by aid of twigs brought for the 
purpose. Fallen birds must, in any case, be set up as fast as 
gathered ; if left spread-eagled as they fell, inevitably the next 
comers are scared. The more numerous and life-like the decoys, 
the more certain are the geese to come in with confidence and 
security. 
Naturally great care must be used in getting into and out 
of one’s hide to avoid breaking down its loose and crumbling 
substance. But it is of first importance quickly to gather and 
prop up the dead. A winged goose walking away should be 
stopped with a charge of No. 6 in the head. 
As illustrating the life-like ettect produced by our tin decoys, 
on one occasion a friend, after firing both barrels, was watching 
