96 CHINESE TURKESTAN 



waiting, three bucks appeared on a crest of rocks 

 much higher up, and stood there on the sky-line 

 surveying the more or less grassy slopes below 

 them. Two were big, and they made a fine picture 

 standing there motionless as statues, but none the 

 less keenly on the look-out. We had already been 

 climbing for nearly two hours, and though the 

 actual distance up to the three was not great, at 

 least another good hour of hard work would be 

 necessary to reach their level. We were, of course, 

 in full view, but a long way below ; and as we lay 

 quite still, they did not see us, and after half an hour 

 or so, being satisfied that all was safe, they lay 

 down. This was much better business than going 

 after the herd, as, however big its leaders might be, 

 we were quite likely to be separated from them by 

 some of the females, which take the part of ever 

 watchful sentinels, and are always ready to sound 

 their shrill whistle of alarm. Our way up was very 

 steep and rocky, the first twenty yards being in 

 view, but this was cautiously and safely crawled 

 across. The wind was right, so we toiled up and 

 up till we reached a height level with them, and 

 then crept among the rocks towards our unsus- 

 pecting prey. As the ground was very broken, and 

 they were lying down, great caution was necessary 

 lest we should come suddenly upon them, and so 

 start them off without time for a shot, so our pro- 

 gress, though sure, was slow. Presently, while 



