A PICTURESQUE BIVOUAC, 77 



a big overhanging rock, capable of affording shelter for us all- 

 It was rather an awkward place to get at, from its being 

 situated just below the crest of the ridge, in such a way as to 

 render it necessary to clamber down, one by one, on to this 

 covered shelf of rock, below which was an .almost sheer drop 

 of at least a hundred feet, terminating with a very steep slope 

 of incalculable distance towards depths unseen from above. 



Taking with us our burly but agile guide, Kurbeer and I 

 lost no time in making a start after the tahr we had seen 

 below. Difficult as the ground looked from above, we found 

 it fairly easy, although toilsome to work over. As it was 

 very favourable for stalking, I had not much difficulty in 

 getting several easy shots. But no sooner did I uncover my 

 right eye to take aim, than its sudden exposure caused both 

 eyes to water, blurring the sights of the rifle and everything 

 beyond them, which of course made my shooting rather 

 erratic. It was almost dark when we got back to our cave, 

 and, much to the regret of its occupants who had been look- 

 ing forward to a hearty supper of tahr meat empty-handed. 

 Notwithstanding the general disappointment, the place looked 

 cheerful enough, and highly picturesque withal, as the fires 

 blazed and crackled away, shedding a warm ruddy glow on 

 the black, smoke-stained rock beetling above, and throwing 

 up the wild figures of the mountain men, either in dark re- 

 lief or in high light, as they moved to and fro, or squatted 

 before their little fires, cooking their evening meal. After 

 dinner and a pipe, my blankets were spread on the softest 

 spot I could find on our stony floor. Fortunately I am not a 

 somnambulist, or, from the position of my couch, my arnbula- 

 tion might have taken me down over the rocks below at a 

 pace I never could have dreamt of. 



Next morning my eye was still so bad that it would have 

 been wiser to have given it a rest than to have gone out 

 merely to disturb the game as I did, by firing several random 

 shots. One herd which towards evening we saw, must have 



