IN THE NICK OF TIME. 439 



concludes that the animals will be likely to make for a wide 

 ravine, where there is more or less grazing for them, some 

 distance beyond and to the left of the brow they so hastily 

 quitted, and that by our quickly making a circuit below, we 

 may possibly be able to reach the foot of it in time to 

 intercept them. Off we start as fast as we can shuffle along, 

 for running is next thing to impossible in such trying 

 atmosphere. In less than an hour we have almost reached 

 the foot of the ravine. As we cautiously approach it round 

 the shoulder of a spur, I can judge by the unwonted haste 

 with which Puddoo not only lifts his coat-tails, but this time 

 winds them tightly round his waist, that his excitement is 

 unusually intense. On gaining the cover of some rocks, 

 which he says will command the lower part of the ravine 

 where he hopes to find the flock, we slowly raise our heads 

 to reconnoitre. We are just in the nick of time, as five or six 

 of the animals, which are evidently still on the move, have 

 reached the foot of the ravine, and one or two have com- 

 menced ascending an opposite slope at, as near as I can 

 hastily judge, about 180 yards off. Quickly adjusting the 

 sight, I let drive at a grand fellow as he stands for a second 

 or two at the bottom of the slope ; but from being rather 

 shaky after our hurried stalk, I hit him in the haunch instead 

 of the shoulder. Off they all speed, but again stop a short 

 way up on the slope to look back, giving me ample time for 

 a shot at another good beast, which rolls over to rise no more. 

 Away they start again at a gallop, with the exception of a 

 big old ram not the wounded one that lags slowly behind. 

 I have now only my miniature '360-bore Rigby rifle left to 

 use, and although many a black buck and cheetal stag, and 

 once even a full-grown stag jurrow, have fallen to it, I hardly 

 expect it to do for a big Ovis Ammon at quite 200 yards : but 

 luck is on my side this time. The little expanding bullet 

 chances to hit, and so hard that the old ram merely moves on 

 a few faltering steps and once more stands stock-still. Mean- 



