58 By Mountain, Lake, and Plain 



overhung. On this one could lean and see into 

 the depths. This was clearly the Ultima Thule. 

 Below us was a sheer precipice ; if the ibex were 

 not in shot from this point we had lost them. 

 Leaning over, I at first saw nothing. Then I 

 saw a beast move out on to a shelf straight below 

 me. I realised with a jump of the heart that he 

 was a really big beast ; also that the shot was a 

 very long one, perhaps two hundred and fifty 

 yards, and the light bad. I think I have never 

 had a shot at an animal so plumb below me. 

 A pebble would have fallen close beside him. 

 Leaving the sight at its lowest, I pulled and 

 saw the dust fly. At the shot, which in the 

 stillness of the evening reverberated among the 

 rocks like a cannon, the second ibex, hitherto 

 unseen, dashed out, was over the ledge in a 

 moment, and had disappeared. My beast hesi- 

 tated and stood long enough to enable me to 

 correct my aim and get in another shot. To 

 my huge satisfaction he collapsed and rolled 

 over. I had desperate fears for his skull, as I 

 heard a great rattle of stones which went on for 

 an interminable time. We all climbed back and 

 went down the hill by the morning's road. Then 

 I went on to camp whilst Ibrahim and Rustam 

 went round to try to find the ibex, about which, 

 as the moon was bright, Rustam felt confident. 



