# XXV explained — María > Chapter companion for María by Jorge Isaacs. ## What happens Efraín, Carlos, and Braulio go on a deer hunt. Braulio sabotages Carlos's rifle, causing him to miss an easy shot, which humiliates Carlos. The deer is spared at the request of Emma and María. Braulio reveals his trick to Efraín and mentions María's kindness towards Tránsito. ## Themes in this chapter ### Friendship and Rivalry Braulio's sabotage of Carlos's rifle highlights the tension between camaraderie and pride. ### Nature and Memory The hunt scene showcases the natural landscape and the interaction with wildlife. ## Character check-ins ### Efraín Organizes the hunt and observes Carlos's mortification. ### Carlos Martinez Silva Misses the deer shot due to Braulio's sabotage, feeling humiliated. ### Braulio Deliberately loads Carlos's rifle without a bullet to avenge ridicule of his dogs. ### Juan Ángel Assists in the hunt, managing the dogs. ### María Intercedes for the deer's life and sends good wishes to Tránsito. ### Emma Joins María in begging for the deer's life. ## Key lines > Braulio maintains that my load is perfectly graduated; but he insists that my rifle is not as good as yours, though they are of the same make, and he himself fired with mine at a citron and put four slugs in it. Carlos mentions that Braulio claims his rifle is well-balanced but inferior to Efraín's, despite being the same model and Braulio having shot well with it. _Carlos discusses the rifles, setting up the later sabotage._ > I thought that you would give him the best shot, and so I did not put a bullet in his rifle when he gave it to me to load. Braulio confesses he intentionally left Carlos's rifle unloaded to ensure Efraín would have the better shot. _Braulio reveals his trick to Efraín, explaining Carlos's miss._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mar_a_se/chapters/xxv - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mar_a_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mar_a_se/chapters