IBEX-STALKING IN ANTIMILO 251 



turned up, and we went on without much difficulty 

 to a ridge of rocks some three hundred yards from 

 the ibex, who had taken shelter from the rain in a 

 series of caves. The buck was actually lying on the 

 skeleton. Then came another storm ; but this time 

 I had my waterproof. The wind being perfectly 

 steady, I smoked a pipe, and watched the beasts. 

 After an hour of this, not seeing any chance of the 

 goats moving, and still less of my getting any 

 nearer, I decided to avail myself of a fine interval, 

 and take the shot. Everything was against me — 

 the distance, the fact that the overhanging rock 

 threw the animal into deep shade, and, lastly, the 

 fact that he was lying down. Moreover, as sub- 

 sequent investigation proved, the nature of the 

 ground was very deceptive, and the ibex were a 

 great deal more below me than I realised. 



I rolled up my cape, put it on the edge of the rock, 

 rested my left hand on it, and fired. The bullet, I 

 think (for I failed to find the mark afterwards), went 

 over the buck's back, and sent him bolting out of 

 his hole like a rabbit. Up jumped a number more 

 out of various caves, including a much better and 

 whiter buck, but he was out of sight before I could 

 reload. I went down and examined the ground, but, 

 as I expected, found no blood marks. The skele- 

 ton was that of a doe, which no doubt had been 

 wounded by the shepherds and come here to die. 

 We followed in the direction the herd had taken 

 for some time, and then I called a halt for lunch. 

 After this we went on again, and came right on 

 the herd on an open hillside, which descends to 

 the peninsula on the west of the island. Perhaps 

 I was a bit lazy, but anyhow I convinced myself 



