34 IBEX SHOOTING 



one's up." Lassoo was at the glass in a 

 moment, and kept up a running account of 

 the proceedings. " Male grazing this way 

 one female gone over the other side of 

 the ridge that female come back again." 



Visions floated before me of going back 

 after all without a shot ; for if they grazed 

 towards us, we could not move in their 

 direction without being seen. " Now the 

 females are on the ridge " : indeed, you 

 could now see them with the naked eye, 

 as their figures stood out clearly on the 

 sky-line. " Now they're making up their 

 minds which way to go. Allah be praised ! 

 they've gone over the other side in earnest, 

 and at a gallop, and the male will follow 

 them to a certainty." 



Lassoo rose, the telescope was shut up 

 with a snap and returned to its case, and 

 we all stood ready behind the trees. Then 

 the big one walked lazily on to the crest and 

 had a look round. Lassoo was like a grey- 

 hound on the leash, as with goggling eyes 

 he watched his prey, and, with a warning 



