96 THE PERPETUAL SNOWS. 



ranges, from being so close below the perpetual snows, you 

 seldom get the same expansive panorama of the great frozen 

 chain, even from a coign of vantage, as you have of it at a 

 greater distance, when viewed from the middle ranges. But 

 when you do get a glimpse of a colossal white mass towering 

 above the black pine-forest and grey storm-swept crags, or 

 through the rocky vista of some narrow gorge, or, best of all, 

 an uninterrupted view from an open mountain summit, the 

 prospect is far more imposing. In fact, a sensation something 

 akin to dread is inspired on suddenly beholding the startling 

 propinquity and overwhelming magnitude of so sublimely 

 grand a spectacle as up here is often most unexpectedly 

 presented to the wondering gaze. But let us resume our 

 business on hand. 



We had not gone much over half a mile from our cave 

 when we descried some dark objects moving among the 

 rocks away down below. 



" They are bucks for certain, as they look so black," so say 

 Kurbeer and the shikaree, as I proceed to adjust the telescope, 

 using my iron-shod staff as a rest for it ; and bucks they prove 

 to be. Three or four only are visible, but others may be 

 hidden by the rocks. If they remain where they are, we 

 can pretty easily approach them unseen, though it will be 

 more difficult to do so unheard. For when stalking animals 

 from above on precipitous ground, be it ever so favourable as 

 regards cover, there always remains the probability of detach- 

 ing loose stones, and of making more noise in clambering 

 downwards than upwards. 



As my two companions, with bare feet, generally precede 

 me in our down-hill stalk, they contrive to cleverly " field " 

 the stones set in motion by my heavy nailed boots, and some- 

 times place a hand or a shoulder against a smooth rock, or 

 drive the point of an alpenstock into the ground for a foot- 

 step below me, until at last we manage to get within easy 

 range. The shot is a downward one ; so aiming low, I let the 



