2iJ6 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



very far from us, on about the same level as 

 ourselves, Simon's keen eyes bad made out an 

 ibex. At first sight and at the distance I 

 might have mistaken it for a chamois, but 

 bringing the glass to bear, I made out a 

 grand ram, with broad sweeping horns, stand- 

 ing on the narrowest of ledges, utterly unsus- 

 picious of our presence, entirely taken up with 

 the ' lick ' of bitter water at which it was 

 refreshing itself. 



We had lots of time to look about us, but 

 look as we would there was no possibility of 

 stalking the ibex, in fact no way of approach- 

 ing a yard nearer than we now were. Had 

 we had Frank's long range rifle with us we 

 might have had a chance. As it was I could 

 hope for nothing but failure with my ' Express.' 

 But it was the only thing to do, so allowing 

 for the distance as well as I could I fired. My 

 men had focussed the animal with their glasses, 

 and a simultaneous exclamation of surprise 



