BULLET AND SHOT 



looked almost, if not quite, inaccessible, and besides, 

 I did not know how much further he might have 

 rolled after we had lost sight of him. The men 

 went off, and we watched them descend without 

 difficulty to the spot where we had last seen 

 the ibex, and a thrill of exultation stirred me as 

 I saw the shikarrie hold up his hat, and heard him 

 give a shrill whistle as a signal that they had found 

 him. My self-congratulation and joy were, how- 

 ever, but short-lived, for, to my unspeakable horror 

 and dismay, I next instant saw the ibex running off 

 in front of the men till he again disappeared from 

 view, as did his pursuers, once more to reappear 

 with the same result. 



I felt very anxious, but there was nothing to be 

 done but to await the issue of events, so we sat 

 down and discussed our tiffin in anything but an 

 exultant frame of mind. I was in terrible dread 

 lest we should lose the animal after all, and I ate 

 my luncheon with a heavy heart indeed ! 



By-and-by a coolie came up from below, and 

 told me that they wanted a rifle, that the ibex was 

 a very big "saddle-back," and that he had only a 

 hind leg broken. This was too much for me, for, 

 in spite of my natural dislike to steep ground, I did 

 not want to entrust them with my rifle, and still less 

 did I wish that the ibex should be bagged only 

 partly by me ; and so, assisted by the coolie, I 

 succeeded at last in accomplishing the descent, 

 while D. remained on the top to await my return. 

 I found the shikarrie (Chinniah) crouched close 

 into the hillside, watching the ibex which was 



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