i88 NYAN (OVIS AMMON) SHOOTING 



horns. The sterns of these animals were white, and when 

 they turned from us they became almost invisible against 

 the light-coloured hillside. The two big nyan remained 

 feeding about on one spot, occasionally lying down, the 

 younger and smaller ones ranging farther and lower. By 

 three o'clock my patience was exhausted, for evening was 

 coming on, and the game showed no signs of coming to 

 graze on the plain. A move had to be made, and, thinking 

 I saw a chance, I made a rush, and got four of the beasts 

 under the crest of a lower range just in front, which 

 concealed us from their view ; it was lung-splitting work, 

 and pumped me completely. I heard the boy behind 

 blowing like a grampus and murmuring " Ami-na, Ami-na" 

 under his breath — that is, invoking his mother. The largest 

 nyan, the dark-coloured one, was highest on the hill, and 

 the only animal left uncovered ; he no doubt was the 

 senior, and kept careful watch over his younger friends 

 below him — a habit just the reverse of that I noticed in 

 the ibex. One rush more would have brought him too 

 under the crest of the closer range, but as we made it he 

 detected us, and when I looked up again he was standing 

 like a statue with head erect, in full gaze — a splendid 

 picture. We dropped as if shot, but the old ram was not 

 to be deceived. Our movements caught his eye for perhaps 

 a second ; he knew it meant danger ; and after a steady 

 look of a couple of minutes, during which he could not 

 have discovered anything, he ran down to his companions 

 — and it was all over, as far as that stalk was concerned. 



We went slowly up the hillside, and, reaching the crest, 

 discovered the rams in i'uU but slow retreat. They crossed 

 over to the Dong-lung side, and we followed them as soon 

 as they were out of sight, the boy taking up the tracks, 

 which could be plainly recognised fifty yards ahead, on the 

 crumbling slope. We went a long distance, crossing the 



