SPORT ON THE PLATEAUX 337 



the head, and terminating in a sHght downward bend. 

 I was still about 250 yards from them, rather too far 

 to make certain of a lying shot, so I decided to wait till 

 they got up to feed. It was now 8.30, well past their 

 usual feeding-time. I take it, that the reason the old 

 rams become so irregular in their habits at this 

 season is that, having spent all the summer grazing 

 on the finest grass, they become so fat and lazy towards 

 autumn that they only feed for a very short time, and 

 at irregular intervals during the day. 



For a good hour I lay there with the snow-water 

 slowly working its way through my clothes, in the 

 constant dread that the wind would shift, and the old 

 man would get tired and show himself (always a great 

 danger with these people), or that some other cause 

 would rob me of this chance of a life-time. At a moment 

 like this one's feelings are much too acute for enjoy- 

 ment, but I shall always treasure the recollection of 

 that hour, spent in such close proximity to those hoary 

 old patriarchs, as among the finest of my hunting ex- 

 periences. They seemed to be in no hurry to move, 

 they were evidently enjoying to the full the warmth of 

 the sun. Every now and then one would get up, nibble 

 at a tuft of grass, and then, after pawing the ground, lie 

 down again. Some were lying with their necks stretched 

 out along the ground, as if resting themselves from 

 the terrible weight nature has imposed upon them. 

 Others were sitting up, and chewing the cud, keenly on 

 the look-out. The ram I had chosen was lying broad- 

 side on to me, so that I was. only able to see his horns 

 well when he now and then turned his head for a look 

 in my direction. 



My patience was almost exhausted, when one by one 



