ioo IBEX SHOOTING 



if they in any way affected him. The clash 

 of horns was often heard in the quiet air, 

 as two young bucks had a friendly battle 

 on a ledge so narrow that it was incon- 

 ceivable how any living creature could be 

 there at all. Nearer and nearer they came 

 as they rose higher up the mountain, until 

 the leading female was nearly level with 

 us, and the black chasm below alone separ- 

 ated us from our prey. A few yards more, 

 and as she rounded a rock she stopped and 

 had a look. No anxiety crept into her 

 manner, and after a second she went on ; 

 then another came, and standing in exactly 

 the same place had her look and went on ; 

 the third did the same ; our coveted " big 

 one " was sixth, and would doubtless do 

 likewise, as this is their custom. Lassoo 

 got his glass on to the place, and I drew a 

 bead on the next one, so as to be ready to 

 fire the moment my quarry appeared. The 

 fourth came, stood a second, and went 

 on. I was bitterly keen on getting the 

 "scoundrel," so without thinking I rested 



