below, in the steep rocky bluffs that 

 formed the face of the cliff. Every step 

 was an agony of uncertainty as to how 

 far one would slide, and how much 

 loose shale one would dislodge to rattle 

 down over the cliff and startle the ante- 

 lope we hoped were there. To move 

 about on a squeaking floor without dis- 

 turbing a light sleeper is child's play 

 compared with our progress, A mis- 

 step would have sent us flying over the 

 cliff, but I did not think of that — my 

 only care was not to startle the shy 

 fleet-footed creatures we were pursuing. 

 I hardly dared to breathe ; every muscle 

 and nerve was tense with the long sus- 

 pense. 



Suddenly I clutched Nimrod's arm 

 and pointed at an oblong tan coloured 

 bulk fifty yards above us on the moun- 

 tain. 



