VI THE FIRST MARKHOR STALKED 87 



discussed what should be done. The herd might go up 

 either of the two slight hollows on each side of the 

 small ridge, so we settled that we should try to get on 

 to the middle of the rise, so as to be able to fire both 

 ways. If, then, the herd came up by either small 

 hollow, we should have a chance, but if it came up 

 the centre w^e were sure to be seen, and should pro- 

 bably only get a long shot. Lying flat, we started to 

 worm ourselves up the middle ridge. Two or three 

 of the herd were in sight as we did this, and each time 

 one of them looked up we lay still. The smaller of 

 the two males was about 500 yards away, and, with a 

 couple of females, was approaching cautiously, looking 

 up every now and then, and inspecting the hillside care- 

 fully as he advanced. How we escaped being seen I do 

 not know, for we were in full view of the smaller male 

 most of the time. At last we got up to the top of the 

 ridge, which was fairly wide, and found that none of the 

 herd were on the far side. By going a little distance 

 further on, we got almost out of sight of the smaller 

 male, so, lying flat on our backs, we began to wriggle 

 down the hill. In a few minutes we got as far as we could 

 venture, for the slope appeared to begin to drop suddenly, 

 and we were afraid, if we went on, that the others, who 

 must, we knew, be somewhere about the bottom of the 

 descent, would see us. So we lay still and exercised our 

 souls in patience. Presently the male we had sighted 

 grazed his way up to a point about 150 yards off, 

 and then lay down ! I could hardly breathe as I lay 

 on my back, and saw a markhor deliberately settle him- 

 self within easy range. The horns looked small, but 



