THE YAK. 253 



retiring in the distance, others lying down, some feeding 

 at some six hundred yards off, but with a smooth slope 

 separating us, which offered no chance of getting at them. 

 Here we lay behind stones, watching, admiring, and 

 longing. From hence I saw the huge old bull of the 

 enormous foot-prints, carrying a very heavy pair of horns, 

 slowly and, as I thought, feebly descending behind a rise : 

 others, fine fellows, lay down on the rise. We waited 

 long, hoping against hope ; till at last evening, growing 

 apace, and the frosty air admonished us that we must 

 make up our minds what to do. I had no covering but 

 the suit I wore, and nothing to eat, so that passing the 

 night here on guard was out of the question. Subhan 

 proposed a dash at the enemy for a chance shot so like 

 him ! I proposed to withdraw quietly, and seek the foe 

 next day ; so the decision was left to Moosa who directed 

 the retreat. Back we went ; and now a terrible long 

 trudge awaited us, and it was long after dark ere the 

 straggling party following Subhan and self had come in, 

 some quite sick, Mooktoo and the Yarkandi ' hors- de- 

 combat, 7 and all thoroughly fatigued. I, therefore, 

 proposed to remain in camp to-morrow, and send back 

 for more provisions, on arrival of which in the afternoon 

 we would shift quarters, moving up the mountain near to 

 the place the yak were left in. 



30th August. Moosa returned about 4 P.M. ; and as 

 soon as the fasting hunters had cooked some bread, we 

 started for our new quarters which we reached at dusk. 

 We were yet a long way from the yak ravine, but at any 

 rate two hours nearer. There were no bushes here for 

 shelter, so I selected a hollow trench-like place for my 

 couch, Subhan digging up the ground to soften it ; and, 

 on arrival of the traps, I was not long ere I sought the 

 protection of my blankets, first fortifying the inner man 



