124 IBEX SHOOTING 



right, to see if I could in any way get a 

 better sight of him. Again I peered 

 cautiously over, and what was my surprise 

 to see a second exposed to view, lying close 

 to him, at full length on his side and yawn- 

 ing ; and he was the better of the two. 

 Lassoo also had a look, and nodded to me 

 to shoot. It 's one thing to look with one 

 eye over the edge of a cliff at an ibex ten 

 yards off, and quite another to get a shot 

 at him, for in the latter case your rifle, 

 head, and shoulders have to be got over 

 before firing is possible, and quickness of 

 sight is the ibex's keenest faculty. I never 

 had such a strain on my nerves before ; it 

 seemed to be an hour before I had got the 

 bead on to him, and it was, I should think, 

 quite three minutes. First, the rifle muzzle 

 had to be poked over the edge, and then 

 ever so gradually pushed out and out till 

 the weapon was at the balance ; then, just 

 as slowly, head and shoulders had to be got 

 out; Muksooda holding my feet the while 

 to prevent me from falling over the cliff. 



