280 THE LESGHIAN MOUNTAINS. 



guide went first, scooping' hollows with the butt of 

 his rifle in which to put his feet, and in his steps I 

 followed with comparative ease, though it required 

 a good head to look down from our perilous path- 

 way. 



Still the excitement of the chase kept me up ; 

 and once across this long stretch of snow the 

 going was easy enough, until we came to a small 

 chasm which had to be crossed by jumping. Had 

 we not looked too long at it the jump would not 

 have appalled us, as it was easily within the powers 

 of the most- third-rate athlete. As it was, it was 

 not without a good deal of screwing up that I got 

 myself to the sticking-point, and gave my guide 

 a lead across. After this I went on by myself, 

 my Lesghian going back, in despair of ever getting 

 nearer to the deer. For nearly an hour J con- 

 tinued to follow up the track, expecting every time 

 I peered over a ridge to find the herd in range 

 just on the other side ; and so alluring was the 

 chase that even now, looking back, I cannot help 

 feeling that if I had only gone on to that next 



/ * > 



bluff I should have had my reward. 



But the human frame won't go on moving for 

 ever, however much the will may desire it, to, and 

 my unlucky limbs kept reminding me by certain 

 aches and stumbles that they had almost reached 

 the limit of their powers of endurance. So all 

 unwilling 1 gave in and turned back. And now 



