74 STALKS ABROAD 



me furiously forward, and I broke into a shambling 

 run. 



"It's the big ram!" he gasped. "He's seen 

 us. Can't get any closer. It'll be a long shot ! " 



The light was slowly fading, but away down 

 below us, looking a terribly long three hundred 

 yards off, stood a clustered bunch of sheep. One 

 stood out from them clearly, even at that distance, 

 and this time there could be no mistake. I once 

 read that there are two methods of taking a shot ; 

 one is, "I hope to heaven I shall hit you ! " the 

 other, to clench your teeth, and say, " By Jove ! 

 you brute, I'll get a bullet into you somewhere ! " 

 My mental attitude must, I suspect, have been 

 the former. 



I remember with fingers that shook turning the 

 safety bolt and kneeling in the snow, the rifle-stock 

 cuddled to my cheek. I remember wondering if 

 the distance were not more than three hundred yards 

 and if I had the sight a trifle fine ; then the long 

 wailing whine of the bullet, followed by the sheep's 

 startled rush. A great form went plunging down the 

 hillside in long easy leaps (they measured some of 

 them over fourteen feet) half hidden in a whirling 

 mass of snow ; then the trees hid him from view 

 and I knew that my last chance had gone. 



For a time, when we reached the spot where 

 he had stood, hope revived. Short stiff hairs were 

 lying there, and a little patch of red stained the 

 snow. Whilst the little patches continued in the 



