256 SPOILT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



There was nothing then for us to do but go to the 

 tent which had been pitched not far away, and where we 

 arrived about half-past five. As this herd consisted of six 

 rams, it seemed probable that it was not the one we had 

 stalked on the two previous occasions, but none of us saw 

 it close enough to make sure. 



The small camp was pitched near a spring not far 

 from the Pass, where there was grass for the ponies and 

 yaks. Curious to relate, there was a smart shower 

 of rain after dinner, and the night was not as cold as I 

 had found previous nights at Sangtha. When we arrived 

 in camp Rupsang told us that he had seen where the 

 herd had gone, and that we should probably find it close 

 by in the morning. 



Accordingly, next day (the 24th) we followed him up a 

 small nala leading away from the camp, and after about half 

 an hour's walking, sighted the six rams feeding on ahillside 

 about a mile and a half off. To the right of where they 

 were was a ridge, and below this a hollow running into a 

 ravine, with a small watercourse which ran down between 

 us and the sheep. If we could get to the edge of the hill 

 overlooking this watercourse, and the sheep were to feed 

 down into it, there might be a chance of a shot ; but in 

 the position in which the game then was, obviously our 

 best course was to get into the hollow to their right, and 

 see if a shot could be obtained by crawling up the ridge. 



So we moved to our right, keeping below the crest of 

 the ridofe overlookinsf the watercourse, so as to be out 

 of sight of the game ; and when we found a convenient 

 depression in the ridge we lay down and crawled across, 

 taking advantage of every block of stone we could find. 



