88 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



which rose in a series of broken precipices to the 

 height of 8000 feet The top of this hill constituted 

 the most lovely park-like tableland. The beautiful 

 red blossom of the rhododendrons, flushing in the 

 warm genial light of the rising sun, made the place look 

 more like some beautiful pleasure grounds in England 

 than the abode of the wild ibex and the eagle. As 

 we came to the last undulating wave among the low 

 hills at the foot of the precipices we halted, and lying 

 coiled up in the long green grass, took out our glasses, 

 and set to work to examine every possible nook into 

 which an ibex might have stuck himself. At this 

 early time a mere casual glance from an experienced 

 eye will detect an ibex from among the rocks ; it being 

 their feeding-time, there is certain to be one or two on 

 the grassy slopes, which will direct your eye to their 

 locality. Having discovered the position of the herd 

 in general, the next step is to make out the ' sentinel ' ; 

 this post is generally assigned to an old female who 

 has seen many a stalker defeated by her unwearying 

 watchfulness. To get within shot is often impossible, 

 owing to the old witch having taken up a position that 

 commands every possible approach. Nothing but long 

 experience enables a man to determine whether the 

 stalk is practicable or not ; should he decide in favour 

 of the latter, he must lie and watch the herd until the 

 old doe goes off her post, and another, perhaps less 

 au fait, takes her place ; this change is effected by the 

 old lady getting up and poking the next sentinel in 

 the ribs with her nose. The new guard never mutinies 

 but goes to its post at once. Well, we had not even 

 got the glasses up when Francis touched me gently, 

 and we both instantly sank lower into the ground, like 

 a snail into her shell. About \\ miles off we saw a 

 handsome brown buck ibex (I think I told you an 



