338 Unexplored Spain 
guns from 100 to 200 yards apart and upwards, each intent 
on the larger game, the secretive alimafias easily get through 
—indeed, wolves and even big boars, though the crash of 
brushwood may be heard, often pass unseen. 
Many unconventional days have the authors enjoyed in 
express pursuit of these keen-eyed creatures—call them vermin if 
you will. There are four methods which we have found effective : 
1. Short drives of individual jungles where sufficient open 
spaces occur to leeward to enable the game to be seen. 
2. Long drives of extensive jungles, converging on guns placed 
at points that either command the probable lines of retreat, or 
cover some other favourite resort wherein the quarry is likely to 
seek refuge. 
3. Calling—in Spanish, chillando. 
4, Watching at dawn or dusk, either with or without a 
‘ drag.” 
1. The first plan is, of course, the simplest; but it must be 
borne in mind that this is essentially close-quarters’ work—hence 
the utmost silence is necessary. Horses must be picketed at least 
a mile back, for the clank of hoof on rock or the clashing of the 
bucket-like Spanish stirrups in bush will awaken even a dormouse. 
All proceed on foot; and the whole plan having been arranged 
beforehand, not a word need now be spoken, each gun taking 
his allotted place in silence. Guns may be as far as 100 yards apart 
(since mould-shot is effective up to nearly that range) and each 
man should station himself looking into the beat, so as to command 
the intervening ‘‘opens,” while himself absolutely concealed 
and still as a stone god, since he is now competing with some of 
the keenest eyes on earth. All the cats, moreover, come on so 
stealthily, making good their advance yard by yard, that quite 
possibly a great tawny lynx may be coolly surveying your position 
ere your eye has caught the slightest movement ahead. 
Nothing emphasises the amazing stealth of these silent 
creatures more than such incidents: when suddenly you find, 
within twenty yards, a wild beast, standing nearly two feet at 
shoulder, slowly approaching through quite thin bush; how, in 
wonder’s name, did it get so near unseen? Foxes, as a rule, come 
bundling along with far less precaution and no such vigilant look- 
out ahead, though they will instantly detect the least movement 
