90 IBEX SHOOTING 



to-day, as is usual after a new fall of snow, 

 and in a most favourable place for us. 

 Immediately above them was a small plain 

 of snow, ending in a precipitous drop, a 

 hundred yards beyond which cropped up 

 the big rock on which they had taken up 

 their position. We had, therefore, only to 

 make a detour in order to get on to the 

 plain, from whence we could approach 

 within a hundred yards of them without 

 a possibility of being seen ; and right above 

 them too! We were soon off; two o'clock 

 saw us on the plain, and at 2.30 we were 

 within a few yards of the point from which 

 we expected to get a shot. A real chance 

 this ! Now absolute silence was the only 

 precaution necessary, as the wind was 

 favourable and we were out of sight. For 

 the last fifty yards we executed a crawl to 

 the edge; then Lassoo whispered, " Now 

 I've done my part, let 's see you do yours. 

 Sahib, look! " 



I took off my puggree, and slowly got one 

 eye over the edge ; sure enough, there were 



