210 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



througii a bed of dry rhododendrons, almost 

 into the middle of them. Most of the chamois 

 had disappeared at the first sound of his 

 sudden descent ; but when Yassili managed to 

 stop himself, there was one small head looking 

 about in a puzzled way over the top of a heap 

 of boulders about one hundred yards below. 



Yassili made signs to me, and as quickly 

 as I could I got to his side ; but long before I 

 could get to him, my worthy hunter had 

 erected his alpenstock, rested his rifle thereon 

 and — frightened away my last chance. I 

 refrained from kicking Yassili, and was re- 

 warded by getting a long shot at two of the 

 herd as they scampered up the opposite side of 

 the ravme. One of these I believe I hit very 

 hard, but though we marked the place into 

 which it seemed to fall, we could never find it. 



So we went home again to the tune of 

 ' Ararrees ' (pigeon Georgian for ' haven't got 

 anything !'). This continued want of food 



