262 GUN, RIFLE, AND HOUND. 



to emerge. No doubt they would lie up there for the 

 day. 



" The beaters must stop here," I said ; " you (to 

 the man who had seen the herd) and the shikari come 

 with me." 



About a couple of hundred yards from the valley I 

 stopped. This was the nature of the ground. From 

 the main hill above a spur ran out, forming a small 

 valley on each side. The one to my left was full of 

 tamarisk and camel-thorns. This was the one 

 where the herd were said to be. The other was more 

 open, with a lot of loose rocks lying about. The 

 wind was pretty well on my left shoulder as I faced the 

 hill. 



My plans were soon made. It was obvious if I 

 went up the right-hand valley and crawled out along 

 the spur I should get a shot. If the antelopes for 

 huge and unwieldy as the nylghai is, he is a true ante- 

 lope were lying down, as was probably the case, 

 a whistle from me would soon bring them to their 

 feet. 



I left the two natives with the strictest injunctions 

 to remain where they were, and not make too much 

 noise, and taking my i2-bore rifle from the shikari I 

 started off on my stalk. Before approaching the hill I 

 walked off half a mile to my right, and then returning, 

 completely concealed by the spur, I approached the 

 rocky gorge. 



My "Field" boots were soled with jute, making 

 my footsteps inaudible, but the stalk was still one of 

 some difficulty. The chaotic masses of loose stones 



