248 A HLNT. 



and, through the inequality of the side of 

 the mountain, frequently making false steps ; 

 for the grass being long, the footing was 

 rendered insecure. The plain proving too 

 short for the dogs to come up with the 

 deer, although close upon her, she suc- 

 ceeded in getting into a wood, from whence 

 we could not drive her. Not a native of 

 the country had followed me ; and when we 

 met, they almost looked on me as a mad- 

 man, though a well-mounted Sussex fox- 

 hunter would have thought nothing of the 

 performance. 



The evening proving cold, I ordered a 

 wood fire to be kindled on a platform, 

 which I had raised for the purpose, in the 

 centre of the rancha, close to which I 

 placed my table ; and my friend Senor Ra- 

 mirez, who had, for the last six months, 

 been conducting the draining of the lake, 

 as agent to Senor Paris, sat down with me 



