IN FULL SIGHT OF OUR PREY 233 



Capra Sibirica, so we decided to attempt the stalk. 

 We retraced our steps, and, leaving the ponies with 

 the other Kalmuks, I started with Taba towards 

 a range of steep crags, amongst which we thought 

 we might advance in safety ; but the ground became 

 very difficult, and it was a long job to reach the other 

 side of the valley, for there was many a deep ravine 

 between us and the rocky ridge, while the ascents 

 were exceedingly steep. Loose stones were being 

 continually displaced by us, and the india-rubber soles 

 on my shoes were fairly worn out in less than an 

 hour's time. After many a scramble we succeeded 

 in covering the ground between us and the rocks, 

 but here our real difficulties began. We sat down 

 to rest on the top of the ridge, and spied another 

 herd of Ibex, females and young ones this time, over 

 seventy in number, at the bottom of the valley about 

 a mile below us. Leaving them to our right, we 

 went down the crags which from the top seemed quite 

 inaccessible, but, being in full sight of our coveted 

 prey, we could not possibly follow the ridge, which 

 would have been much easier work. About a hundred 

 yards below it, after very careful and dangerous going, 

 we found we were out of sight, but here again numer- 

 ous long and steep snow - slides had to be crossed. 

 Some of them were fairly wide, and the snow was 



