AWKWARD POSITION FOR A SHOT 95 



of him, as he lazily shook his head and flapped his ears to 

 drive off the flies. Once he looked straight into my eyes, 

 but the thick screen of leaves and the rock saved me from 

 discovery ; the wind, I need not say, was favourable. 



I found at length a small space among the leaves 

 through which I thought I could bring the siglits to bear on 

 the buck's shoulder. I had to raise myself on my toes a 

 little to level the ritie, and that is not a steady position for 

 a shot. There was no other way, however — delay would be 

 fatal, and I had to chance it. Motioning Sharafa to hold 

 up my feet with his hands, I stood on tiptoe, took aim, and 

 fired. I missed ! The buck sprang to his feet and stood 

 for a moment confounded. I gave him the second barrel, 

 and missed again ! The ibex vanished round the hill, and 

 I thought seriously of suicide. Sharafa brought me to my 

 senses by bidding me look out for the other two, and, 

 turning round, I went dowm a few paces ; no bucks could 

 be seen, but a minute after, as we stood motionless 

 watching, one dashed from under our position to my right 

 about forty yards off; he was going fast, but I tumbled 

 him over like a rabbit with a bullet through his neck. 

 Sharafa gave a satisfied grunt, and I prepared for the third, 

 but he never showed. We crossed his tracks afterwards 

 on our return to camp ; he had rushed down some distance 

 before turning along the hillside. 



Eeason having returned, I could not bring myself to 

 believe that I had missed the big buck twice at fifteen 

 yards. Mirza Khan said I had hit at the second 

 shot, but the ibex went off with such a rush that I was 

 extremely doubtful. However, to make certain, Sharafa 

 went off to follow up his tracks, Mirza Khan having gone 

 down to halal the second ibex. After ten minutes Sharafa 

 presently returned to report that he had found blood on 

 the tracks ; a hundred yards farther on he came to a place 



