120 IBEX SHOOTING 



the matter is, that I don't know whether 

 the ibex have gone up the nullah or down, 

 and I consequently can't send any coolies 

 back to camp for food, for fear they might 

 disturb them, if they're that way ; and we 

 only brought food for three days." 



Now we had been away four days, and 

 might be away four more, so that without 

 a murmur these poor chaps were starving 

 themselves of their own free will. My 

 bearer, I found, had plenty of food, so I 

 gave them all I did not want. They are 

 the right sort, these hillmen ! 



Next morning we pushed on a bit fur- 

 ther, leaving the bedding where it was, 

 and soon found our friends. I was over- 

 joyed, but Lassoo was silent. After watch- 

 ing them for a quarter of an hour, he said, 

 " Now I understand what they've been 

 doing; there is a snow leopard after them." 

 " How do you know ? " I asked. Lassoo 

 handed me the glasses, and I looked. The 

 ibex were among the crags and snow, but 



