CHAP, vni THE DESERT 205 



night, so took it easy and did not get up when called 

 at 5.30. At nine, after breakfast, went to see the horse. 

 Found the black vulture alone there, but he had done 

 feeding, and flew away to the crest of the big hill 

 beyond the bait to repose himself and think. This he, 

 however, found too windy, as it ruffled his great loose 

 feathers, so he went away altogether. I must give up 

 a day to trying to get this fellow. After went to the 

 rocks where I shot the wolf and saw nothing. Across 

 to the rocks, and after a bit saw a very handsome fox 

 going away, slightly disturbed. He had his brush 

 turned, so I squatted, and when he looked round he 

 could not find me. He sat down, and at last curled 

 himself up among some loose limestone rocks in 

 the open. After giving him as long as I could I got 

 up and pretended to go away altogether ; but as 

 soon as I was out of his sight, the wind being very 

 strong and favourable, I stole quickly up to him in my 

 lawn-tennis shoes, and shot him stone dead as he 

 went off. He was a young dog-fox, with a lovely 

 gray skin. 



In the evening watched the pass at the rocks for 

 wolves, and returned by the bait and saw absolutely 

 nothing. 



Bitterly cold and wind N.W., the worst possible 

 for the bait. 



Friday, 1st February. Up at 5.30, and out on the 

 Sheikh ; went round by the Bedouins' Valley, and came 

 in over the big hill at the bait. Nothing to be seen. I 

 fancy the wolves must have heard the horse's hoofs 

 clattering. Took a long ride in the Abooseer direction 

 and saw nothing but a fox. In the evening watched 

 the small pass at the rocks, as there were plenty of 

 fresh tracks there, and I expect the wolves made off 

 this way this morning. Swept the desert for miles 



