128 IBEX SHOOTING 



him and saved his horns. Yes, there he 

 was, sure enough, with his head hanging 

 backwards over space, his forelegs doubled 

 up on his chest, his hind ones dangling, and 

 his white stomach turned up to the sky. 

 How to get him was the question. His 

 position seemed to me inaccessible. When, 

 however, Muksooda and the coolie took off 

 their shoes and coats and crawled down the 

 face of the cliff, I saw, for the first time in 

 my life, what a hillman can do if he is put 

 to it. Lassoo, in the meantime, escorted 

 me by another route to within thirty feet 

 of my prize. When I arrived, Muksooda 

 and the coolie were nearly down to the 

 body. I would not have gone with them 

 for all the gold of the Indies, and what is 

 more, I do not believe any man could 

 have gone down that wall who had not 

 feet with about as much feeling as the sole 

 of a boot, and a big toe capable of bear- 

 ing his whole weight for minutes at a time. 

 It was quite creepy enough work seeing 

 them even. However, they arrived with- 



