IBEX-STALKING IN ANTIMILO 245 



I lay still, thinking some more might come down, 

 and sm-e enough in about five minutes another herd 

 of six with two fair bucks appeared above, going at 

 their best pace, and crossing the very spot previously 

 occupied by my herd, disappeared seawards in their 

 turn. I had now to decide what I would do ; and my 

 decision was to follow my original herd. Accordingly 

 I made my way downwards. From a rocky peak some 

 hundreds of feet lower down I did a careful spy, but 

 in vain. In the hope of moving something I then 

 rolled down a big rock. No result. I then had a 

 last spy, when, to my delight, I made out Becky Sharp 

 and her offspring lying on a fairly commanding point 

 some five or six hundred yards below. Guessing, or 

 rather hoping, that the lord of the harem would be 

 somewhere thereabouts, I tried a nearer approach by 

 crossing a couple of gullies and working down to a 

 high point leeward, but from here again I could see 

 nothing of the buck. Accordingly I rolled down 

 another rock, and immediately became aware of a 

 distinct goaty flavour on the breeze. Then five 

 small beasts appeared in the gully immediately below 

 me. But my glass was fixed on " Becky." For a 

 full minute she lay still, looking in every direction, 

 then jumped up and slowly made off, still seawards, 

 with her kid ; and then to my delight the big buck 

 appeared from some hiding-place, and followed with 

 a gouty hobble, irresistibly suggestive, in this con- 

 nection, of his Lordship of Steyne. Presently they 

 disappeared behind a small rock. 



Now, how to get at them ? Below me there was, 

 firstly, a sheer precipice, and secondly, anotner herd, 

 which, if disturbed from this side, must go their way 

 and alarm them. 



