306 AFTER WILD SHEEP IN THE ALTAI 



Roe-deer docs, and although he had scoured large 

 tracts of timber, had met with very few signs of 

 Stags. 



Next day, September ist, we exchanged ground, 

 starting" at daybreak. It was a frosty morning, and 

 a thick mist covered the whole country, clearing up 

 towards 6 a.m. As we advanced through the bushes, 

 nothing came in sight for a couple of hours, during 

 which time we had journeyed five or six miles from 

 the lake. As I sat down to spy a broad, open corrie, 

 my glass revealed four animals feeding slowly in the 

 distance. On more careful examination I found them 

 to be two Maral hinds with their fawns. I had taken 

 Jacob with me that clay ; the fellow was very anxious 

 that I should shoot at least a hind. I naturally 

 restrained his impetuosity, and as we were discussing 

 the matter, my other hunter suddenly pointed out 

 amongst the trees some 200 yards ahead of us a 

 Roe-deer with two kids quietly feeding. As soon as 

 the animal moved, I saw it was a doe. But this was 

 not to be our last disappointment that day. As we 

 made our way through the high bushes, which at this 

 place came almost up to our necks, a buck and a doe 

 suddenly sprang out and disappeared in a second, 

 without giving me the slio-htest chance of a shot, and 

 only just affording me the glimpse of a pair of fine 



