78 STALKS ABROAD 



any wandering hunter, and you may expect four 

 or five goats for one sheep ; but, when the winter 

 holds all the land in its iron grip, when the home 

 of the winds stands empty and its masters are 

 abroad, when the white elusive snow makes a 

 delicate tracery on each wall-like cliff, it is another 

 matter. His footsteps tell you that he is there, 

 moving in his own mysterious way, but his coat, 

 usually so conspicuous, hides him well and you may 

 look long ere you find him. 



For six of the long eleven days in which I had 

 never fired a shot had I played at hide and seek 

 with those elusive goats. Twice only, during that 

 time, did I see one in the flesh, though their 

 numerous tracks proved what adepts at the game 

 they were. Silently and noiselessly they would 

 vanish while we were yet afar off, doubtless laugh- 

 ing in their beards at the poor figures which we 

 cut. Yet, as I said just now, they are contradictory 

 beasts, for when at last my turn came, the goat at 

 whom I fired stood there motionless and undisturbed, 

 until my third shot sent him reeling down the hillside 

 on the reddening snow. He may be a foolish animal, 

 as some have said, or fearless, as I like to think, but 

 he is interesting from whichever point of view you 

 like to take him. 



As a climber he has no equal, for, playfully and 

 for sport, he will venture safely where even a big- 

 horn, urged on by fear, would scarcely dare to go ; 

 and he never loses his head under the most trying 



