Ncilgherry Ibex and Sainbnr. 251 



a small " shola " in our front. On approaching the 

 first buck we found an ewe also dead ; the bullet after 

 passing through the ram had struck her in the neck. 

 Now commenced one of the hardest fags I have ever 

 undergone, but I was determined to have that " saddle 

 back," even if I had to sleep on his trail all night. 

 His track we soon found, and a fair quantity of blood 

 along it. Sure enough he was in the shola, but on 

 the further side. We had to track him carefully as 

 the undergrowth was somewhat thick, and all the 

 satisfaction we got was hearing him rush out, without 

 even getting a sight of him. I ran forward, but came 

 an awful cropper, my foot catching in a trailing vine. 

 After I picked myself up, I saw a glimpse of the 

 tail of the animal as he wound round a rocky peak. 

 He was going strong, but did not face the steep 

 ascent, selecting for his course the side of the valley. 

 I fancy he did not like irregular ground, with only 

 three legs to trust to. We were at fault once or 

 twice, for the ground became rocky and there was but 

 very little blood ; but making way for Francis, that 

 experienced shikarie took up the trail like a well- 

 trained hound, and though our progress was slow it 

 was sure. While my attendant was looking down 

 examining the ground, I happened to cast my eyes 

 to the left and just saw the tips of a fine pair of 

 antlers. The owner was going away with lowered head, 

 but he had not caught our eyes (a beast will often 

 gaze upon a man until the eyes meet and then he will 

 bound off) ; so the buck was not unduly alarmed, 

 thus he stopped for a moment to take a backward 

 glance. I fired and heard the " thud " of the bullet. 

 Francis turned round, thinking it was the old ram I 



