286 LKH AND LADAK. 



imaginable, and, after many dodges, finally took flight. 

 So I tried after the hare. No find. Then I took down 

 a stream, and shot a long-billed bird which, when sitting, 

 I thought must be a woodcock : but it was only some kind 

 of plover, the head and bill exactly like the woodcock's. 

 I saw the ' long-bill/ There was but this one, and again 

 I sought his life. In vain : he was off long ere I got 

 near him. Then I tried a swamp ; found nothing, and 

 stopped to breakfast. All the people and traps came up 

 and passed. I felt resolved to have that snipe. And, as 

 he had gone off in the direction of the spot first found in, 

 I had no doubt of seeing him there, so went back. There 

 he was, quite conspicuous, feeding about, but still wide- 

 awake, and ever fluttering on out of shot ; and at last, 

 when my attentions became too pressing, he took a long 

 flight, but came back a long round, and settled in some 

 sedges. I was relentless, and resolved to compass his 

 death by treachery ; so, taking advantage of a fence 

 covering my approach, I stole upon him. Reconnoitring 

 carefully, I saw him evidently on the ' qui vive/ and had 

 to advance still some way to make sure. I peeped again : 

 he was not visible. Suspecting a 'ruse/ I went on a 

 little further, and looking over the hedge saw my fine 

 fellow, his head on one side, evidently listening. Without 

 any compunction, I blew out his brains then and there? 

 Soon after, I shot a hare, and then, turning towards the 

 horses, a good long beat lying between, I fired at four 

 others ineffectually ; a just punishment for the persecution 

 and murder of the solitary snipe. 



I found my tent pitched at Panamik in the old spot ; 

 and in the afternoon transacted a deal of business. The 

 moonshi, Ahmet Shah's relative, met me on the road. 

 He and Abdoolah had come to some understanding on 

 prices and charges, and we got on very well. The horse 



