88 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



Abdulla whispered that they were large enough, and as 

 I did not know then what shootable horns should look 

 like at that range, I accepted his opinion, and looked on 

 that markhor as already bagged. 



Meantime we were in hopes that the others would 

 come up the small hollow to our right, but when half an 

 hour passed and there was no sign, Abdulla's charac- 

 teristic defect of impatience began to show itself. If I 

 had known as much about the habits of markhor then as 

 I have learned since, I should have been aware that the 

 bulk of the herd was then close to me at the bottom of 

 the ridge I was on, and that if I only waited I should be 

 certain of getting a shot at the large males when they 

 again began to move upwards. But Abdulla was too 

 impatient, and urged me to fire at the markhor before us. 

 So, after some hesitation, I took the .303 and slowly 

 raising myself to a sittmg position, took deliberate aim. 

 I was of course then in full view, and had the markhor 

 looked round, he could not have failed to see me. But 

 he continued gazing down the valley, and gave me a 

 capital broadside shot. But the excitement (I suppose) 

 was too much for my steadiness, and to my dismay I 

 missed ! The moment the sound was heard, the mark- 

 hor I had aimed at jumped up, and started off down the 

 hill ; at the same moment the rest of the herd emerged 

 from its concealment at the foot of the small ridge, and 

 began going at top speed down the slope. The larger 

 male was with them, and a fine fellow he looked as I 

 sent a couple of bullets after him, loading rapidly from 

 the magazine. Then they turned a corner and all was 

 over. 



