CHAPTER XLIII 



AN UNSUCCESSFUL CHASE 



LITTLE by little the stars grow paler as they make 

 room for the sun. 



We are prepared to shoot at any moment. 

 Night's curtain rises ever higher, and things in the 

 foreground become quite distinct in the full light 

 of day, but not a sign of markhor anywhere to be seen. 



Only yesterday we watched them grazing so 

 peacefully, utterly without suspicion, on the opposite 

 hillside ; and to-day the spot is deserted, the world 

 seems empty for as far as we can see through our 

 glasses. 



"The Sahib ought to have had a shot at them 

 yesterday evening. They were not too far off, 

 and it was not too dark." 



As a matter of fact I had already raised my rifle 

 and was on the point of pulling the trigger, but 

 my heart was beating so hard that the sight was 

 not steady enough and I dared not shoot. 



Was it the dark veil of evening that dimmed 



my eyes, or was I dazzled at the sight of those 



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