WILD SHEEP. 21 



and many miles hard marching 1 , were necessary to get at the sheep, 

 so it mattered little, which path we took. My companion usually 

 preferred the stiff climb to begin with, while I kept to the valley 

 route. This naturally set us to hunting in different sections of coun- 

 try, so that? we did not interfere with each other. 



The first day, however, we both started together up the "white 

 trail" as we called the very conspicuous path that lead up the moun- 

 tain side. This trail can be seen from the eastern and south-eastern 

 boundaries of the Kuei-hua-ch'eng plain, fully forty miles away. 



Arriving at the top, just an hour after leaving camp, we con- 

 tinued along one of the great ridges leading to the uplands. On 

 our way we sighted a small herd of ewes, which gave us a splendid 

 chance of testing our rifles, but we were after royal game, and let 

 them go. On reaching the grassy uplands, one of the Mongol hun- 

 ters spied two rams standing away off on the crest of a ridge. As 

 it. was* my companion's first experience of sheep hunting I suggested 

 that he should try to get up to these rams, one of which we could see by 

 our glasses), had a fine pair of horns. 



Accordingly we separated. I had not gone far when Holcomb's 

 rifle rang out, and looking round I saw a large herd of sheep break- 

 ing away to the west. I took one rapid shot, but failed to find a 

 mark, and as the herd was well on its way up an opposing slope I 

 reserved my fire for something more certain. 



Those shots seemed to set all the game in the country moving. 

 First a large covey of partridges rose from almost under my feet, 

 and sailed off on whistling wings. Then a herd of six roedeer came 

 bounding out of a little hollow in front of me, and swept away to the 

 north. Next instant, from out a deep ravine to the east, where I 

 had secured my first good head, walked a herd of sheep led by two 

 old rams. This was what I sought. A ram with a herd was bound 

 to be a gjood one. 



Making my two shikarees crouch down in the long grass, I got 

 out my pocket telescope and ascertained that both rams carried good 

 horns, the second being slightly the larger. Obviously they were rivals 

 for the ownership of the herd, and as such would be easier to stalk 

 than lone rams, or those without a harem. 



We were a long way from the sheep, but kept perfectly still 

 till they had crossed a ridge and disappeared over the main divide, 

 Then carefully noting the lie of the land, and the direction of the 

 wind, we cut across the slopes to head off the herd. The sheep had 

 not been really scared, and we guessed that they would move slowly, 



