226 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



the ponies which we expected, and direct them to 

 their destination, which was the head of the Tchagan- 

 Kol River. Before parting with us these two men 

 had refused to start without arms, saying that "they 

 might have to defend themselves against natives and 

 wild beasts." Hearing this I was stupid enough to 

 lend them my big revolver. When we saw that both 

 the men and ponies failed to turn up, we naturally 

 thought that they had lost their way, and, a few days 

 later, commissioned one of our hunters to find them, 

 wherever they might be. The latter had now joined 

 us with the fresh lot of ponies, and reported that he 

 had come across them wandering somewhere about 

 the Suok Steppe ; he had also met the two armed 

 Kalmuks, who declared to him that they were going 

 back to their homes, carrying off my precious weapon 

 as a souvenir ! 



Littledale came in at about three in the afternoon, 

 reporting that he had seen nothing but tracks of Ibex 

 on very likely ground. fie thought it was hardly 

 worth while remaining at that place, and suggested 

 a start for the morrow, especially as Taba promised 

 better ground within a comparatively short distance. 

 That same day a very fine head was picked up, 

 measuring 60 inches along the curve by 19J, inches 

 in circumference at base. 



