SHEEP AND GOATS 237 



chance at last ! They were very busy digging up the 

 snow to get at the grass underneath. Beneath us the 

 steppe undulated, and I soon made out a line that 

 should take me within shot ; so telling my Kirghiz to 

 be still where he was, I wriggled off over the snow 

 on elbows and toes, flat on my stomach. My elbows 

 got sore and my hands very cold. Swell after swell 

 I circumvented, hoping that each would be the last, 

 but as soon as I peered over it I found that by a 

 little more crawling I should get nearer my game. 

 At last from where I lay I could see nothing but a 

 dead flat between me and the herd about 200 yards 

 ofF no chance of a nearer approach ; and when they 

 did move I naturally concluded that they would go 

 for the mountain, and therefore away from me. I 

 made up my mind to shoot. The atmosphere was 

 very clear, and the sheep stood out wonderfully plain 

 on the white snow. I brought up my rifle and 

 pulled off on what I took to be the best head. The 

 smoke hung for a moment, and I saw nothing. 

 But when it cleared, there they all stood, after a short 

 spurt. I gave one the other barrel. This time there 

 was no mistake I heard the bullet thud ; and as they 

 made off for the mountain one remained. He did 

 not fall, but moved on slowly. Presently he lay 

 down and died. On my way to where he lay I 

 crossed the line of the herd, and there plain on the 

 snow was a blood trail. I had got in my first 

 bullet after all. I sat down and watched the sheep 

 as they ascended the slopes in the distance. They 

 rounded a spur out of sight, the wounded one with 



