332 IN THE NTCK OF TIME. 



can shuffle along, for running is next thing to impossible 

 in such trying atmosphere. In less than an hour we have 

 almost reached the foot of the ravine. As we cautiously 

 approach it round the shoulder of a spur, I can judge by 

 the unwonted haste with which Puddoo not only lifts his 

 coat-tails, but this time winds them tightly round his waist, 

 that his excitement is unusually intense. On gaining the 

 cover of some rocks, which he says will command the lower 

 part of the ravine where he hopes to find the flock, we 

 slowly raise our heads to reconnoitre. We are just in the 

 nick of time, as five or six of the animals, which are 

 evidently still on the move, have reached the foot of the 

 ravine, and one or two have commenced ascending an op- 

 posite slope at, as near as I can hastily judge, about 180 

 yards off. Quickly adjusting the sight, I let drive at a 

 grand fellow as he stands for a second or two at the bottom 

 of the slope ; but from being rather shaky after our hurried 

 stalk, I hit him in the haunch instead of the shoulder. 

 Off they all speed, but again stop a short way up on the slope 

 to look back, giving me ample time for a shot at another 

 good beast, which rolls over to rise no more. Away they 

 start again at a gallop, with the exception of a big old ram 

 — not the wounded one — that lags slowly behind. I have 

 now only my miniature •360-bore Rigby rifle left to use, 

 and although many a black buck and cheetal stag, and once 

 even a full-grown stag jurrow, have fallen to it, I hardly 

 expect it to do for a big Ovis Ammon at quite 200 yards: 

 but luck is on my side this time. The little expanding 

 bullet chances to hit, and so hard that the old ram merely 

 moves on a few faltering steps and once more stands stock- 

 still. Meanwhile the rest of the flock have reached the top 

 of the rise, and after standing clustered there for a few 

 moments as if irresolute about their further movements, 

 they finally disappear beyond it, with the first fellow I had 

 shot at limping after them. Reloading the Whitworth as 

 quickly as possible, I give the laggard I had wounded with 



