194 SAVAGE SVANETIA. 



about two hundred yards below us, a herd of 

 some seventeen chamois were standing like 

 statues, ready to bolt at the next alarm. 

 Before I could raise my rifle the whole herd 

 was in full flight, but a breathless run gave 

 me a second chance at them lower down. 



Though only one of my two shots told, I 

 was comforted by seeing that though tho- 

 roughly frightened the chamois had not yet 

 seen me even when I fired at them. Guessing 

 the point they were making for, and running 

 doubled up across the top of the ridge, I 

 suddenly came face to face with the whole 

 herd. 



It was a quaint sight, the row of white 

 faces and sharp ears staring silently at me 

 over the top of the ridge. So still were they 

 all for the moment, and their bodies ^o com- 

 pletely hidden, that for a second I scarcely 

 believed my eyes. Then the line broke up 

 and wheeled agam into headlong flight, which 



