558 DZUNG/.RIA 



pretty sight upon which we looked down. Two old 

 grey wolves were lying on the soft turf, enjoying the 

 sun, while round and over them romped five jolly young- 

 sters, looking just like a lot of large collie pups. It 

 seemed rather heartless to break up this happy family 

 party, but, though wolves are frequently seen while 

 sheep hunting, one generally refrains from firing at 

 them for fear of disturbing nobler game, so that this was 

 a chance not to be missed. To approach them was easy, 

 a friendly ridge covering my descent ; but something 

 had frightened them, perhaps the Kalmuk had shown 

 himself on the slope above, for, on reaching a point 

 fifty yards from where they had been lying, I saw the 

 whole family slinking off at a good pace. Three shots, 

 however, accounted for one of the old ones and a 

 youngster. 



Our horses showed the greatest fear of these wolf- 

 skins, and commenced to squeal and buck when they 

 were tied on to the saddles. One, which was ridden by 

 my Kalmuk, broke away with a half-tied-on skin flapping 

 round its legs ; luckily it kicked the obnoxious thing 

 clear after going a mile or so, or I doubt if we should 

 have seen it again. 



We decided to make a long march up the valley 

 without stopping to hunt ; by so doing we hoped to 

 get beyond the ladies' quarters into the domain of their 

 lords and masters, for such large numbers of ewes meant 

 fine heads somewhere not far off. 



At this time frequent severe thunderstorms swept 

 over us ; though unpleasant while they lasted, the cool, 

 clear atmosphere which they produced was an ample 

 compensation. 



As we moved up the ever-narrowing valley, a few 



