320 SPORT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF KASHMIR chap. 



side, so as to hide the further off ponies behind the 

 nearest one. Although, however, we made a round 

 which took us along a circle quite 2 miles or more from 

 the antelope, we must have been detected, for the herd 

 got up as soon as we were well in view, and began 

 moving quietly up the nala. When we got into a 

 depression, we went as fast as we could, till we reached 

 the point where the far side of the nala subsided into the 

 plain. There we left the ponies with Turrup, and I 

 loaded the Lee-Metford. 



Then the shikaris and I advanced cautiously up the 

 side of the nala, and soon came in sight of the herd. 

 They were feeding up the ravine, and as the undulations 

 were few between us and the game, I felt doubtful as to 

 whether I could get within range. However, I resolved 

 to try, and leaving the men in a hollow, I started 

 forwards on my hands and knees. Soon this had to be 

 changed for an advance lying flat on my stomach, but 

 when I got to the top of the very gentle rise I was 

 climbing in this fashion, I found one of the bucks looking 

 back, and none of the herd within 300 yards. 



Not liking to risk a shot at this range, I crawled back 

 to the shikaris, and we descended into the river-bed, and 

 proceeded up the nala under cover of a high bank. When 

 we thought we must be parallel with the herd, I went 

 alone, slowly and cautiously, up a convenient dry water 

 channel that led up from the main one. Presently I saw 

 the tips of a pair of horns some distance off and crawled 

 on watching them, as far as I could, without exposing 

 myself. After I had gone some way the horns moved 

 forward, and thinking that I was not likely to get 



