6 IBEX SHOOTING 



snow was in the avalanching stage, and the 

 road consequently dangerous. 



Eventually, about midday, while the final 

 result of this consultation was still doubtful, 

 a messenger from my shikari's village ar- 

 rived, breathless and weary, with the news 

 that a telegram had just arrived from Srin- 

 agar, giving warning that " another sahib 

 had started for the Wardwan." Now the 

 Wardwan was my district ; and the only pass 

 into it the " Mergen," near the foot of which 

 we were encamped. If this "other man" 

 and I got over together, we should have a 

 race of 150 miles or so for the best nullah ; 

 while if I and my party crossed first, he could 

 hardly hope to catch us up, and would not 

 attempt it, we presumed ; and the worry of 

 a protracted race w r ould be avoided. 



This settled the question, and an hour 

 more saw us in motion, our object being to 

 reach the very foot of the pass, some six 

 miles off, before sunset, in order to lighten 

 the next day's work, which we foresaw 

 would be long and tiring. 



