IBEX-STALKING IN ANTIMILO 247 



utterly puzzled as to whence the danger threatened, 

 and then slowly made off. It was too late to think 

 of getting down that night, so I climbed upwards to 

 where I had left my lunch. The stalk had taken me 

 just four hours, but I got back to my rucksack in 

 fifty minutes, and taking out the waistcoat I had left 

 in it, placed it on a large stone as a seat, and sat 

 down and discussed my luncheon. Of course, when 

 I had finished luncheon, I forgot all about the waist- 

 coat, my only one, and walked off to camp without 

 it. V. returned about the same time. He too had 

 found ibex early in the day, but unfortunately, as he 

 was stalking up to them, they started moving rather 

 fast towards him without his knowing anything of it. 

 The result was a mutual surprise, and a snap-shot, as 

 unsuccessful as these shots generally are, followed by 

 two futile shots at the bolting herd of six, no doubt 

 the same one that came down to me. 



Next morning I started off in the boat to pick up 

 my buck, but after going round the north end of the 

 island I totally failed to identify the place where he 

 had fallen, from the sea. I saw some ibex high up 

 in the seaward cliffs, and fired a couple of shots in 

 the hope of sending them up to Y. ; but he had, as far 

 as I recollect, a blank day on this occasion. I was 

 back in camp by luncheon time ; and after I had 

 utilised the afternoon for an al fresco tub, down 

 came the rain. Darkness fell, but no Y. Old 

 Thomas roundly abused me for letting him go alone 

 when I, only, knew the island, but at last some shots 

 were fired on the high and almost sheer peak above 

 camp. I at once despatched Star with a lantern as 

 a relief party, and eventually my partner got in in 

 good time for dinner. 



