276 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



Now and again as we crossed these moors a covey of 

 grouse 1 would get up. After a march of some fifteen 

 miles or so we camped on the shores of a largish Jake, 

 around which, my hunter informed me, the boghe, 

 or stag of the country, was to be found. I was afoot 

 before daybreak the following morning, and started 

 off with my hunters to beat round the edge of 

 the lake. We soon struck the trail of a herd 

 of deer, but after following for some time we con- 

 cluded that there was no good stag in the herd, so 

 left them and proceeded on our way. Soon after 

 this a roedeer doe crossed our line. As I watched 

 her go I saw that a buck was in pursuit, so put on 

 the pace with a view of cutting him off if possible. 

 He was, however, too quick for me, and I failed to 

 get a chance at him. As I went I flushed a huge 

 cock capercaillie, but as I had not a gun in my 

 hand he got off. After hunting all about the shores 

 to the lake for two days without success, for I saw 

 no stag worth a shot, I decided to move on 

 to another beat. I struck camp and proceeded 

 west across the plateau. I was walking along 

 over a tract of open moorland a short distance ahead 

 of my ponies, with rifle in hand in case of a chance by 

 the way, when suddenly I caught sight of a beast 

 moving on ahead over a swell. As he topped the 

 sky-line I got my glass on him, and made him out to 

 be a roebuck, and a beauty too, with horns far 

 longer than the Scotch specimens. I stopped my 



1 This grouse is found in Northern Siberia, and is similar to the willow 

 grouse or " ryper " of Norway. 



