The Bujnurd Sheep 189 



his eyes to what exceedingly unpleasant beasts 

 these people can be ! 



After a miss the first idea is to explain to 

 oneself the "why." This time I could find no 

 excuse. I was steady, unblown, no symptom 

 of " stag fever," the shot easy, the rifle a good 

 one, this I had ascertained. So the question 

 remained unanswered. To the shikaris I said 

 the only thing possible, that it was not the 

 beast's qaza (fate), an argument unanswerable 

 to a Mohammedan ; and having said this much, 

 like the tar-baby I "kept on saying nothing." 

 It was not long, however, before the question arose 

 in a redoubly acute form. 



After a long round, we were returning along 

 the top of the main ridge when I spotted three 

 rams below us. Again a perfect stalk was made, 

 and lying down I had my rifle on a very fine 

 beast a hundred yards away, more or less. He 

 was standing among some clumps of briar, a 

 trifle above me, and disappeared to the shot. 

 Though surprised at not seeing him drop, I 

 did not doubt that we should find him near. 

 Hope told a flattering tale ! The fact was 

 otherwise, and I had achieved another miss ! 



Life had a very black aspect that day. Jinns 

 and enchantments were the excuses offered for the 

 acceptance of the shikaris this time, but I fear 



