90 BIG GAME SHOOTING 



the shadow of my alpenstock, planted vertically in a crack (thus 

 forming a primitive kind of sun-dial), had almost disappeared, I 

 knew it was about time to commence a sharp look out. But, as 

 is so often the case, I was looking for something in the distance 

 which, had I but known it, was right before me. For a quarter 

 of an hour I had been scanning the different ledges with my 

 glass without discovering anything, and I was closing the tele- 

 scope rather impatiently and with unnecessary violence, thereby 

 making a very audible metallic click, when suddenly, with a 

 loud whistle of alarm, a fine buck jumped into my line of sight 

 on the ledge below the one I occupied, not more than thirty- 

 five yards, off. At the moment I was lounging with my back 

 against a rock, my legs, on account of the narrowness of the ledge, 

 dangling over the brink, and my rifle, still unjointed, safe in the 

 game-bag. Throwing my body to one side as the buck jumped 

 into view, I commenced frantically to fumble for the arm ; but 

 the buck was not so easily duped, and by the time I had put it 

 together, wrenched the protector from the muzzle and slipped 

 cartridges in, he had time to put a hundred and thirty yards 

 between himself and that alarming apparition of which he just 

 caught a glimpse. Though he kept to the same ledge he was 

 only visible for brief moments, projecting rocks obstructing the 

 line of sight. So old Reliable, a favourite -500 Express that 

 had done good work in the Rockies and the Sierras, did not 

 get a fair chance, and the buck made no sign he was hit, though 

 it certainly seemed to me that I heard the thud of the ball. 

 Making a detour to gain the lower level, I hurried to the spot 

 and soon found blood, though only in scanty patches. The 

 colour was, however, bright red and frothy, so it evidently was 

 a lung shot. Wounded chamois give no end of trouble, and 

 this one was no exception, for generally it means tracking a 

 beast which instinctively resorts to its matchless climbing 

 faculties to outwit its pursuer. As a rule, it is far wiser not to 

 follow the animal at once, but to seek a prominent point where 

 a good view of the surroundings can be gained, and watch 

 where the beast goes to. If it is only slightly wounded the 



