EXCHANGING SIGNALS. 163 



approach. At last I saw three moving figures in 

 clear relief against the sky on the opposite hill — it 

 was Fred and his two shekarries. I watched him 

 with my telescope, cautiously creeping along the 

 broken ground, rifle in hand, prepared for anything, 

 and halting every now and then to sweep the 

 ground with his glass. Perceiving from his move- 

 ments that he could not see the flock from where 

 he was, I stepped back a few paces, and fastening 

 a handkerchief to my ramrod, made a signal that 

 " game was afoot," which was instantly understood 

 and answered. Fred, with the precaution of an 

 old sportsman, now sent one of his people along 

 the hill at the entrance of the gorge, so as to drive 

 back the herd in case they should break in that 

 direction, whilst I did the same on my side, and 

 then leaving the Doctor, I posted myself at the 

 head of the ravine. Hardly had I reached it, than 

 I heard a couple of shots from Fred, and the 

 reports were still reverberating among the rocks 

 when the Doctor also let drive right and left, and I 

 saw the flock scatter in all directions, as if puzzled 

 to know from what point the danger threatened. 

 m2 



