HIT OR MISSED 1 151 



produced an apple from the capacious pocket of his long 

 woollen garment and gave me it to eat, a practice common 

 with him on such occasions. 



How quickly my heart throbbed, nevertheless, as I cauti- 

 ously peered from behind a rock at those six beauties, whose 

 horns all looked so equally large that I was at a loss to choose 

 which to shoot at. As the nearest offered the best chance, I 

 levelled at his chest, which was towards me. The report of 

 the rifle was instantly followed by a tremendous clatter as the 

 six animals sprang to their feet and galloped away, apparently 

 scathless, barely giving me time to take aim with the second 

 barrel, which was emptied at one of them just as they were 

 disappearing over a ridge. 



I was speechless with vexation. No language, however 

 strong and expressive, could at that moment have relieved 

 my harrowed feelings. Even my Cashnieree companions 

 seemed this time to respect my silent woe, for they gave vent 

 to none of their usual confounded ejaculations either of dis- 

 appointment or condolence. But the looks of contemptuous 

 pity for my performance they cast towards me were just as 

 hard to bear, making me feel half inclined to "loose off" both 

 barrels fortunately they were empty at them, and then 

 fling myself, rifle and all, headlong among the rocks below. 

 I was very much younger and less experienced in human 

 nature then than I am now. Poor innocent men ! I should 

 have known that they were only deeply lamenting the loss of 

 the meat, and not pretending to commiserate my misfortunes. 



When my frenzied state of mind became calm enough for 

 me to think ;uul act like a rational being, I came to tin- 

 conclusion, judging from tin- tremendous pace at which the 

 animal-; had made off, that either my chum or the sportsman 

 in the Zaj nye ground, on the other side of this ran-.-, mu-t 

 have had something to say to them before me, and that, 

 after all, matters mi-lit perhaps not be so bad as they seemed. 

 Whilst I was impatiently reloading, Ham/an, who had run 



