BULLET AND SHOT 



have ever met. Once, and only once, I have 

 reason to believe that some trackers, who were 

 then quite new to me, deceived me by apparently 

 intentionally failing to properly make out the tracks 

 of some bison ; but if so, fear of the animal, should 

 one be wounded, was the sole possible motive in 

 their case. 



Upon returning to camp, I learned that, during 

 my absence, a whole herd of ibex had passed along 

 the face of a hill just above my tent and in full 

 view of the men. I spent all next day out after 

 ibex, but saw none ; and I had to return to the 

 plains without viewing another of these splendid 

 wild goats, though I enjoyed some small success 

 with sambur. 



Upon hearing my account of the animal which 

 I had seen, my relative (who as I before mentioned 

 was then living near the place where I saw the 

 buck) had no doubt from my description that I had 

 seen, and been very near bagging too, that greatest 

 prize of the Neilgherry sportsman, a "saddle-back"; 

 and I could not help regretting that, since my 

 virtuous conduct in refraining from firing a long 

 shot at him had gone unrewarded, I had not risked 

 it, and made at least a bid for so coveted a trophy. 



It happened that in the Christmas holidays of 

 the same year, when I was accompanied by a friend 

 (D.), I was able to spend ten days upon ibex 

 ground. 



We had sent on our kit (including a hill tent), and 

 also our servants, days beforehand ; and leaving the 

 plains upon the first day of the holidays, arrived at 



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