62 THE FORESTS OF UPPER INDIA 



summit, where they must pass to cross the ridge. Pre- 

 sently they disappeared behind some intervening rocks. 

 It was an exciting moment, but there was plenty of time 

 to lay the barrels of the trusty Westley-Richards on the 

 rock, comfortably pointed on the spot where they were 

 likely to come into view. It seemed an age, but at last 

 one head appeared, then another, about 70 yards away, 

 grazing still quietly without suspicion. A careful ad- 

 justment of the silver bead against the dark hide, low 

 behind the shoulder, and a steady, not jerking, pressure 

 on the light trigger, followed by the crack of the rifle and 

 the thud into the side (which crack not coming in the 

 dream stalk accounted for the dream failure). Then the 

 same with number two, which stood for a portion of a 

 second in doubt which way to run. The rest of the flock 

 came on for the pass with a wild rush, and bounded 

 frantically over the top, leaving their two leaders dead 

 on the field. Those two heads now adorn my waUs — a 

 very pretty right and left and a very lucky stalk. Punoo 

 was delighted, and performed the usual ceremony of 

 cutting the throats and gralloching, with many pujas to 

 the devta or deity of the hill. The skins were also re- 

 moved whole ; the provision kilta supplied breakfast, and 

 some kidneys were cooked. 



What is it constitutes the pleasure derived from shoot- 

 ing ? Is it the number of head killed without misses, or 

 the conceived prowess of being a better shot than others, 

 or what ? 



I conceive it to be derived from the successful issue of 

 plans laid with much forethought and preparation, long 

 dwelt on in anticipation, often thwarted after much 

 labour by unforeseen difficulties and failures. This is 

 certainly applicable to big game shooting : the intense 

 excitement felt during the stalk, and the remembrance of 



