50 



SHIKAR 



from which we expected to open fire nothing visible : we 

 thought the prey prohably behind some of the many 

 inequalities of ground, peered everywhere, and shifted posi- 

 tion, till the whole ground was closely scanned ; but no 

 game. They might have gently crossed the hill feeding : 

 but no, they were clean gone. 



A misgiving now struck me, and, looking back, there 

 were the abominable coolies plodding contentedly on. 

 They had moved, when we descended, and came right 

 out in sight of the deer which, of course, they had 

 completely scared away. 



In this unsuccessful chase we crossed some fearful 

 places, the most difficult being sloping masses of snow 

 overlaying precipices, yawning for the unlucky wight 

 whose feet might slip. I gave up the attempt to cross 

 these unaided, after one narrow escape, having slipped 

 and fallen, but fortunately recovered myself. The mode 

 of crossing was by digging holes in the snow for the foot 

 to cling to, as we slowly progressed. It was, without 

 exaggeration, imminently hazardous, and I must own to 

 have been unnerved more than once. 



I breakfasted, and lay down to wait until afternoon, 

 when the animals, having reposed in some inaccessible 

 lair during the day, again come forth, out into the grassy 

 slopes, to feed. 



Subhan, the ever quick-sighted, espied two bara sing 

 far distant and below us : the spy glass confirmed his 

 vision. The plan of operations decided upon, we made 

 our approaches over easier ground, being now lower 

 down, yet some thousands of feet high, and gained a 

 rising ground overlooking the place in which the animals 

 had been seen feeding. We could not see them now, but 

 saw a large stag high up above us, quite out of hope. 

 We remained long watching, and saw nothing, so descended 



