2 7 o AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



buttresses further down, and as we peeped over the 

 rocks Taba caught me by the sleeve and pointed 

 towards a tower-like mass, with precipitous walls on 

 every side, some 400 yards lower. There was my 

 ram again, standing motionless on the very top of 

 it ! I soon recognised his massive, well-shaped horns. 

 Again our only chance was to wait, and we presently 

 saw him make up his mind, and turning away from us 

 disappear over the rocks. Making sure he could not 

 see us from his hiding-place, wherever it might be, we 

 again rushed downhill, and safely reached the buttress. 

 But here a delicate job awaited me, for in all proba- 

 bility the sheep had lain down under some protruding 

 ledge on the further side of the rocks, and I should 

 have to find him, and probably get within close 

 quarters before discovering him. Leaving Taba at 

 the foot of the cliff, I scrambled up the wall, rifle in 

 hand and on the alert. It was rather a perilous 

 ascent, and had it not been for some natural steps 

 here and there where I could get my foothold, I 

 could never have reached the top. Moreover, the 

 wind kept blowing round at this place, and might 

 start the animal any moment. I slowly advanced 

 breathless, from corner to corner, till suddenly, forty 

 yards below me, I caught sight of first a pair of 

 horns, and then of the whole of the animal's body. 



