THE FINEST SPORT 145 



a little, although keeping an eye on them. 

 Ten minutes later I catch slofht of another 

 and this time a short Inspection satisfies me 

 that he would rank as a Bartg'dms (an old 

 buck chamois, the hair on whose withers is 

 sufficiently long to make the much coveted 

 trophy for hats) two months hence. I watch 

 him carefully till at last he lies down. His 

 position is carefully chosen, for his back is 

 to a ridge of rocks hundreds of feet high, 

 and sheer ; and his eyes command the rock 

 and snow slopes before him. But there is a 

 blot on his plan of defence. To his right 

 rear the high rocks are broken down in one 

 place, and below this there is a gulf, the 

 couloir at one side of which is just accessible. 

 Once I am up that, I am above and within 

 a hundred yards of my artful friend. Is It 

 necessary to explain that on such ground the 



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