246 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



more food than at other seasons. So I set eyes and 

 wits to work to make out a line of approach. At 

 last it struck me. A water-course ran down the 

 corrie, and on reaching the plain below turned a bit 

 round the shoulder of the spur I lay on. If I could 

 but crawl up this with cover all the way I had them 

 within shot. I told Surju to sit tight and watch. 

 Down I went behind the spur till I reached the plain. 

 I peered round the shoulder ; there they were, just 

 as I left them, reposing and chewing the cud. There 

 was my water-course, and as far as I could make out, 

 once in it I could creep quite out of sight to within 

 100 yards or so of the sheep. That was the 

 difficulty ; from where I was to the nullah there was 

 about 30 yards of flat ; the burtza or wormwood 

 grew about a foot high, but was rather sparse. Could 

 I crawl through this without being detected ? They 

 were a long way off, but then they could see a long 

 way. I made up my mind to try. Down I went 

 flat, and wriggled into the open like a snake, keeping 

 my eye on the herd all the time. I do not know 

 how long I took to cover those 30 yards, but my 

 knees and elbows were sore when I got into the 

 welcome shelter of the water- course and rested. 

 There they lay as quiet as ever. I started to work 

 my way up the nullah. Now and again I got to a 

 ticklish place, and I could only get over by crawling 

 quite flat, but gradually and surely I drew up to 

 them. My knees were bleeding, and so were my 

 elbows, but what cared I? One more 100 yards and 

 I should be opposite to them. On I went ; the wind 



