112 



SORGO PASS 



other footing rendered it impossible to move without 

 sending some detached fragments from this huge loose 

 mass rattling below. Then, the difficulty of .moving at 

 all on this steep surface was great. We took advantage 

 of the stunted brushwood to screen our approach, moving 

 on only when the animal, ever looking around after a 

 bite or two, put down his head. 



This tedious mode of advance under a broiling sun 

 continued some time ; when the animal, being satiated, 

 suddenly descended behind the low ridge on the top of 

 which he had hitherto held post. Then we pushed on, 

 Subhan too impetuous, the loose stones talking loudly. 

 However, we got to fifty yards of the spot, Subhan still 

 going ahead, head down, when I saw the horns, then the 

 head, of the suspicious chase appear above the ridge. 

 Checking Subhan, down we lay, the forepart of our bodies 

 only screened by some dry twigs of brushwood. I took 

 the rifle, and, raising it, found the ramrod hanging 

 out. Putting my hand to the muzzle, I drew it in the 

 ibex now in fall view, shewing his breast, a fine mark. 

 But from the attitude I was in, lying on my right side, 

 with nothing but loose stones to scratch at, I could not, 

 for the life of me, find means to poise the gun and take 

 aim. Subhan lying in front of me on his side, I tried to 

 rest the gun on him, but could only bring it to bear by 

 pressing on the slope of his shoulder as he lay, which 

 afforded no rest. The animal's quick eye now detected 

 the convulsive twitchings of my limbs, and, giving a 

 shrill whistle, he presented his side at which I pulled 

 trigger as he bounded away. A smack was heard, which 

 we hoped was the ball telling, and away we went, but 

 saw the ibex slowly bounding away. He paused at the 

 foot of a rock, wagged his tail rapidly, and vanished with 

 a dive into a gulley. 



