32 By Mountain, Lake, and Plain 



of that iron pipe, bound up to a stock with wire, 

 must have been something phenomenal. I heard 

 that Rahmat's rifle once failed him five times 

 running. I imagine, if he had taken it to his 

 gunmaker at Warmal, the local Purdey or Cogs- 

 well and Harrison, he would have been told 

 " The rifle seems to have had a good deal of rough 

 usage, and I think, sir, you had better let us make 

 you a new weapon " or words to that effect. The 

 shikari, however, had a better plan. Someone had 

 cast a spell over the rifle, that was clear. He 

 therefore baked him a flat cake of bread, made 

 a hole in the centre and passed his weapon 

 through it. An evil spirit will not go through 

 bread. To make sure, he passed it through a 

 second time. Thus did Rahmat restore the shoot- 

 ing of his rifle. 



On questioning Rahmat about ibex and urial, 

 he waved his arms in a comprehensive fashion, 

 indicating that the hills were full of them indeed 

 he saw beasts now. The glasses turned in the 

 direction he pointed out, discovered some females 

 that to Rahmat's surprise interested me not 

 at all. 



" When Nimrod bold, 



That mighty hunter, first made war on beasts, 

 And stained the woodland green with purple dye, 

 IS"ew and unpolished was the huntsman's art, 

 No stated rule, his wanton will his guide." 



