1 96 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



rocky buttresses, among" stretches of melting snow. 

 A large bird, reminding one of a Snowcock ( Tetrao- 

 gallus), fluttered away in front of us, followed by 

 seven or eight young ones. I asked Lepet what it 

 was called ; he answered " Ullar" in a whisper, for no 

 hunter took greater precautions on the war-path than 

 Lepet. On advancing a little further I soon found 

 the sheep, lying about 500 yards away to our left, and 

 began crawling towards them on all-fours. But there 

 was no approaching them, for the boulders presently 

 grew scarcer, and an open slanting slope extended 

 in front of us. So I waited amongst the larger rocks, 

 trusting to fortune. One of the rams, the only one 

 I could now see, got up, and slowly stretching his 

 limbs walked in our direction, and disappeared in 

 a dip of the ground. Again I waited, expecting 

 every moment the sight of a pair of horns emerging 

 within shot ; but nothing came, and, growing im- 

 patient, I crept on, after taking Lepet's advice. On 

 reaching in this manner the edge of the hollow, I 

 found no sign of game ; the herd had moved away ! 

 Here Lepet caught me by the arm and pointed to 

 our right. Sure enough there were three sheep, 

 some 400 yards below us, playing and fighting, and 

 evidently making for a perpendicular rocky wall 

 which separated us from them. Two were young 



