A MYSTERIOUS BEAT. 397 



fit again. I therefore proposed visiting some ground farther 

 up the glen, which Ganna reported as being a pretty sure find 

 for old bucks. We were just about to start, when it struck 

 me that I had better take one more look through the glass 

 towards the birch bushes on the ledge. This time I noticed 

 through an interstice among the branches a dark patch which 

 I had hitherto not observed. After steadily watching it for 

 some time I imagined I saw it move. At last all doubt was 

 dispelled by the branches above it being shaken to and fro. 

 Directing Puddoo's attention to it, I handed him the tele- 

 scope. After a long look through it he suddenly ejaculated, 

 " It's that again ! " using an expressive but unmention- 

 able term of native abuse towards the animal. 



Our proposed arrangement for the day was now upset, for 

 even if this were not the big tahr I had shot at, it was his 

 exact counterpart ; at any rate it was unlikely that a finer 

 would be found elsewhere. This time the whole day was be- 

 fore us, so we resolved to try a stalk from a different direc- 

 tion. Owing to the precipitous nature of the ground, it would 

 necessarily be a very much longer and more difficult busi- 

 ness, but would, we thought, bring us much nearer our game. 

 After about two hours' climbing, imagine our disappointment 

 on finding that the animal's position was quite hidden below 

 the spot which, from the other side of the glen, we had sup- 

 posed would command it within easy range ; and we could 

 discover no other means of approaching it, from this side at 

 any rate, without our being seen by the tahr. The only plan 

 we could now devise was to send Ganna to try and steal 

 round beyond the place from above, on the chance that, by 

 flinging down a stone, he might frighten the animal back 

 towards us. But the crafty beast must have decamped in 

 some other direction than ours, for not a sign did we ever see 

 or hear of him. If an evil genius presided over this glen, I 

 now began myself almost to think that it must have been 

 embodied, for the time being, in that black old buck. For 



