70 IBEX SHOOTING 



the end of the telescope, for he looked 

 as if he must fall, and be dashed to bits ; 

 but no, a minute later and he was with 

 the herd grazing placidly. They had by 

 this time reached the higher patches of 

 grass, and extended in groups of three and 

 four (we counted twenty in all) and grazed 

 about, coming slowly downwards, while the 

 sun sank behind the range. As he with- 

 drew his fierce rays, the air began to strike 

 cold ; for cold as it was, the sun was very 

 powerful and we were often glad enough 

 to get into the friendly shade of a rock or 

 tree ; not for long though, for we soon felt 

 the cold again, and were glad of his warm- 

 ing beams once more. 



Gradually the herd seemed to point in one 

 direction, and finally, as it was getting dark, 

 one of the younger males took up his post 

 on one of the lower buttress-like rocks, and 

 all gradually grouped themselves round him 

 for the night. 



It was now too dark to see, so we went 

 back to the camp fire, and warmed ourselves 



