io8 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



amongst the cliffs watched the gullies eagerly for 

 anything which might attempt to descend and 

 seek shelter in the forest of pines beyond. Now 

 and again we saw some one ride along the sky- 

 line at the top, and once I tried two long shots 

 at a couple of rams working their way down wind 

 along the cliff-face. This turned them, and sent 

 them over the top, where I believe they passed 

 Captain S. at a fairly long range, and at a good 

 pace. But S. had taken up a position where he 

 was out of sight, and kept cool and quiet, biding 

 his time, so that when the leading ram passed 

 him he turned him over with perhaps. the best 

 shot fired that day. At last my turn came. 

 There was a rattle of stones in one of the main 

 gullies leading from the crater, and five old rams 

 came galloping down for the forest. They were 

 making so much noise themselves that it mattered 

 little that my Indian and I bumped and slipped 

 about, now on our feet, now on our backs, in our 

 frantic endeavours to get to a point from which 

 they must pass within range of us. At last they 

 saw us, threw up their noble heads, planted their 

 fore-feet with an impatient stamp, and stood at 

 gaze. It was only for a moment, and my hand 

 rattled on the stones as I rested my rifle for the 

 shot ; but every bullet has its course fore-ordained, 

 so in spite of my shaking aim, the leading ram fell 



