TO LADAK. 123 



know their meaning. Following Subhan, I advanced to 

 intercept them, and gained an eminence overlooking their 

 position which was in a grassy hollow. It was a stirring 

 sight. I suppose there were thirty or forty of them. 

 And leading the way was the master of the herd, a very 

 large buck, with splendid horns. 



This one I singled out, but was some time ere I could 

 adjust my rifle, and get a steady aim, as he moved on, 

 here and there, over the uneven ground. I was lying 

 down ; but, as he was increasing his distance, there was no 

 time to lose, and I fired, the missile apparently striking 

 him well behind the shoulder. He started, and recoiled, 

 and made off down hill ; and at the discharge a regular 

 hurry- skurry took place among the others who, crowding 

 together, took downwards. Two shots brought down one, 

 and wounded others, and away they all went. I loaded 

 and pursued ; but they had got across a huge ravine, and 

 were about six hundred yards off. I tried the Enfield ; 

 but the bullets struck close to them, and that was all. 



I loaded, and turned back to the victims, and found 

 the first a very old animal with only one tooth in his head, 

 his horns very long, but somewhat worn and dilapidated. 

 He was as thin as could be. The other was a young 

 buck. 



I now bethought me of the fine fellow I had taken 

 such pains about, and had wounded. We found his 

 bloody trail, and sighted him a long way off, slowly 

 moving on up the mountain. I sent Subhan and a coolie 

 in pursuit, and returned with Mooktoo to skin the others. 

 Heavy rain descended, then snow, with loud peals of 

 thunder over head. A coolie descended the mountain to 

 hail the encampment for assistance. We were in sight 

 of our tents, though miles away, far above them. 



A shot was heard in the direction Subhan had taken ; 



