A GOOD SHOT 41 



precipice till the markhor moved into a better position. 

 Tiie heat was so terrific that I soon gave in, and went up 

 again to the shade of the trees, though there was veiy 

 little of it. After long waiting the markhor moved, and I 

 went down again ; but to fire down almost perpendicularly 

 was impossible without following up the bullet in person, and 

 1 was not so enthusiastic : nor could a rest be found for the 

 rifle. Three of the markhor at last moved lower down and 

 farther away from the precipice, and I became anxious, 

 as they were getting out of range. The fourth and largest, 

 the one on which I had set my heart, had not yet been 

 seen : he was still Ivincr down riaht below me. After 

 screwing about and craning over, I did at last see him, 

 but my struggles attracted his notice : he looked up, rose 

 at once and ran down to the others, who also became 

 alarmed and began quickly moving off. In desperation I 

 went as close to the brink of the precipice as I dared, 

 made Sharafa hold me by the belt behind, and covered 

 the biggest. He stood for a moment facing to my left, 

 and I fired. The bullet hit, and I could see the animal's 

 legs fly from under him, as he rolled head over heels 

 down the hillside and fell into the ravine out of si^ht. 



O 



I was rather astonished at my good luck. The distance 

 was certainly two hundred and fifty yards, and I used the 

 first sight. The •■450 Express did its duty- — -all honour to 

 Henry. This was the Xo. 2 rifle of the pair — the one 

 with which I killed the bear. It was my second shot at 

 game, and I had bagged both times. Ghariba went down 

 and brought up the head, and we returned the way we 

 came. It was a frightful pull up hill ; but since we had 

 not now to mind the stones rollins; down, it was not so bad 

 as the descent. The sun, thouo-h it was evenin;::, still 

 punished me, and I wanted a drink sadly ; some shouting 

 brouffht Jamala down, but of course he left the tea bottle 



