quarterings, the whole
flock, led by one that thought it had discovered the way of escape,
struck off into a gallop, and dashed into the inclosure.

"The hunters, who were afoot with the women, now rushed to the entrance,
and in a short while new stakes were driven in, ropes tied upon them,
rags attached, and the circle of the chacu was complete.

"The mounted hunters at the same time had galloped around the outside,
and flinging themselves from their horses, took their stations, at
intervals from each other. Each now prepared his `holas,' ready to
advance and commence the work of death, as soon as the corral should be
fairly surrounded by the women and boys who acted as assistants.

"The hunters now advanced towards the centre, swinging their bolas, and
shouting to one another to direct the attack. The frightened vicunas
rushed from side to side, everywhere headed by an Indian. Now they
broke into confused masses and ran in different directions--now they
united again and swept in graceful curves over the plain. Everywhere
the bolas whizzed through the air, and soon the turf was strewed with
forms sprawling and kicking. A strange picture was presented. Here a
hunter stood with the leaden balls whirling around his head--there
another rushed forward upon a vicuna hoppled and falling--a third bent
over one that was already down, anon he brandished a bleeding knife, and
then, releasing the thong from the limbs of his victim, again swung his
bolas in the air, and rushed forward in the chase.

"An incident occurred near the beginning of the _melee_, which was very
gratifying to my companion the padre, and at once restored the
equanimity of his temper. The herd of guanacos succeeded in making
their escape, and without compromising the success of the hunt. This,
however, was brought about by a skilful manoeuvre on the part of my old
friend the Puna hunter. These animals had somehow or other got
separated from the vicunas, and dashed off to a distant part of the
inclosure. Seeing this, the hunter sprang to his horse, and calling his
pack of curs after him, leaped over the rope fence and dashed forward
after the guanacos. He soon got directly in their rear, and signalling
those who stood in front to separate and let the guanacos pass, he drove
them out of the inclosure. They went head foremost against the ropes,
breaking them free from the stakes; but the hunter, galloping up,
guarded the opening until the ropes an