248 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



verandah outside, and it went down to 32°. We were 

 off before six, and went up the southern side of the 

 nala first, the two shikaris as before being in front, and 

 working the ground much as a pair of setters or pointers 

 at home. 



Nothing was seen till 8.45, when the Kashmiri made 

 the first true point, dropping to his knees beside a large 

 rock, and motioning his companion down. When we 

 crawled up to him, we saw the previous day's herd about 

 a mile off, feeding its way up the slope of a ridge almost 

 parallel to ours. Noting the direction they were going, 

 we waited till the sheep were over the crest of the ridge, 

 and then set off, so as if possible to intercept them. At 

 this point I warned the Kashmiri to be careful, and 

 reminded him of the herd of markhor lost through his 

 impatience about a month before. This man took reproof 

 very badly, and though he attended to what I said at first, 

 he was very soon forging ahead as if pace was the most 

 important thing. 



The Kashmiri was in front with the Ladaki close 

 up. I was some ten paces behind and a little higher up 

 the hill, and vainly endeavouring to restrain Abdulla, 

 who said that the sheep were still far off. We had 

 hardly gone a dozen paces after he said this, and were at 

 the crest of a ridge, when the two men suddenly dropped, 

 and looking over their heads, I saw the five rams gazing 

 at them from a distance of about 50 yards, petrified 

 with horror. I dared not fire over the men, so dropped 

 to the ground, and endeavoured to work my way up 

 to them. But it was too late, for the next instant the 

 herd was going at racing speed down the hillside. I 



