io 4 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



scrambled noiselessly down amongst the crags ; but 

 my troubles were not yet over, for as I reached 

 a steep descent with rolling stones one of these 

 lost its balance and went crashing down the hill. 

 To my great disgust I saw the ram slowly get up, 

 look round two or three times, and walk away. I 

 was too far to shoot, so, making up my mind, 

 I darted down the slope as hard as I could tear, 

 filling my boots with earth and stones, and hoping 

 to get within range of the animal before he would 

 be out of sight. A few minutes brought me to the 

 place where he had lain down. I now found he 

 had crossed the stream, and was making his way 

 up the opposite side at a steady pace, which he 

 had probably increased owing to the noise I made 

 in my desperate rush. He was about 200 yards 

 from me in a straight line, and I saw that all would 

 be over if I did not take my chance then and there ; 

 so, placing myself in a comfortable position, and 

 putting up the 200 yards sight, 1 took a long aim 

 and, confident in my " Purdey," fired. The bullet 

 told, and down he rolled to the very bed of the stream, 

 stone dead. As I was on my way to have a look 

 at my well-earned prize I was startled by shouts 

 from above. There were my two Kalmuks stand- 

 ing on the ridge I had just left, waving their caps 



