A TREACHEROUS WHIFF 157 



of their coming within shot. I explained my design 

 to 1 aba as best I could, but was met with a sceptical 

 look from my companion, and the laconic answer, 

 " Salkhyn yaman" which meant "Wind bad." I was 

 just thinking that the little man was perhaps right, 

 and that we might be scented at any moment, when 

 I saw him make up his mind and creep on in full 

 view, carrying off my precious rifle. I could but 

 follow him. 



All went right for a hundred yards or so. We 

 crouched motionless every two or three steps, watch- 

 ing the sheep with one eye, and with the other picking 

 out the next large stone for a halting-place. At last 

 a treacherous whiff brought them the forebodings of 

 danger, and suddenly lifting their heads they all began 

 gazing intently in our direction. No time was to be 

 lost. Putting up the 200-yards sight, and taking a 

 hurried aim at the one which I took to be the oldest 

 ram, I fired, and to my greatest surprise saw him 



staoorer for a second. A moment after he had dis- 

 00 



appeared with the others over the nearest ridge. 

 They gave me, however, a second chance — though a 

 poor one, I must own — and the result was a broken 

 hind leg for one of the smaller rams. 



Taba now wanted to follow them up immediately, 

 but I thought it wiser to wait, and not frighten the 



