374 THE IMAGE OF WAE 



horns meeting in the neck. He could hardly have 

 meant actual physical injury, but it is quite conceiv- 

 able that they become a great hindrance. In another 

 year this pair would have met over the backbone. 



We gralloched the moufflon where he lay, and then 

 a stiff pull got him up out of the couloir. Anastasi 

 then, with my help, manfully shouldered him, and 

 carried him up to the main road, not a great way 

 beyond. Here I left the old man on guard, and an 

 hour's walk took me home, whence I sent back my 

 man, Leonide, to assist in the carrying, and they 

 finally got the beast in at a quarter to Rve. 



That night all hands fed on moufflon liver, but I 

 personally found it rather strong. This, however, 

 was only due to its exceeding freshness, as the meat 

 when well hung proved excellent. 



The next mornino^ was devoted to skinning: and 

 pegging out. Besides, it was an unpleasant, misty; 

 drizzling morning, and I think no one was anxious 

 to turn out. At half- past ten, however, we did 

 start, and kept at it for five hours in weather which 

 would have been seasonable on a Highland forest, but 

 saw nothing, though a sufficiency of tracks kept hope 

 alive in our breasts. 



That night I had company in the hut in the shape 

 of the local forest officer and his satellities. He had 

 come up to inspect the new forest hut, which, in its 

 unfinished state, the winter rains had reduced to 

 little more than a heap of ruins. 



Unlike many minor officials here, he spoke some 

 English, which is by no means obligatory with them. 

 I gave him dinner, and he gave me — the time ; and I 

 was astonished to find I was an hour and a half slow. 

 No wonder I thought the days very short I 



