A BROADSIDE SHOT 167 



was very sick at this performance, but as I felt sure 

 of having hit the first ram, I rushed off, closely 

 followed by Taba, in the direction he had taken. 

 We soon found blood. The tracks led up for some 

 time along the slope, but as we reached the foot 

 of a small col dividing the two corries we could 

 find no more red -stained blades of grass to direct 

 us. Now was the dilemma ; had he managed to 

 scramble over the ridge, or, being unable to do so, 

 gone down to the bottom of the valley ? I con- 

 sulted Taba, who was disposed to favour the latter 

 alternative ; but this meant at least four hours of 

 considerable toiling with a doubtful issue, and our 

 camp was now many miles off. I chose the ridge, 

 and great was my delight when from the top of 

 it I caught sight of my ram lying on the edge of 

 a snow-drift, some 300 yards below me! But he 

 was still alive. Creeping down stealthily in full 

 sight of him I succeeded in going another hundred 

 yards before he noticed my approach, and as I was 

 about to fire, he got up slowly and gave me a 

 broadside shot as he stood in the snow. Off went 

 my Purdey, dropping him stone dead in his tracks. 

 As I had expected, I found him to tape well, the 

 horn measurements being 52 inches along the curve, 

 19 inches girth, and 38 inches spread. Taba pro- 



