122 IBEX SHOOTING 



accessible cliff that towered immediately 

 above us. 



Early next morning we set off, got on to 

 the top of this cliff by a long detour, and 

 by three were looking over the edge ; and, 

 sure enough, there they were, right below 

 us, all four of them ; but the cliff was so 

 jagged and steep that we could only get 

 glimpses of them at intervals. Back we 

 went to our bedding, returning again early 

 next day, but with the same luck. We saw 

 them all right, but couldn't get a shot at 

 them ! The third day we searched for 

 them in vain ; quite suddenly, however, at 

 about eleven, Lassoo spotted them on the 

 very top of the hill, sitting on a ledge only a 

 few feet from the edge of the cliff. " Now 's 

 our chance, sahib," said Lassoo, " if you're 

 on for a fast thing. They will be there 

 for three hours ; and we must get there 

 before they move, or we shall have the 

 same thing happen again." I answered by 

 pulling up my belt a hole and starting. 

 What a pace we went, up and up, each man 



