CHAP -NA- GO WEE. 63 



wounded companion. It was now apparent I had struck 

 the junior. A severe race the keeper and I had to keep 

 sight of him ; but in vain. The last we saw of him was 

 lagging far behind the other, his snow-white shoulder 

 bedabbled with blood. He soon after disappeared among 

 the rugged ground, and was seen no more that day. The 

 old chief, however, kept on at a swing gallop by himself. 

 Knowing that our sentries would soon turn him, and that 

 his object would then be the rocks of Crap-na-Gower, we 

 kept watching for the signal which was to make us aware 

 of his course. It sounded, and I was again at my post for 

 a shot. 



After waiting for half-an-hour, I saw the tips of his 

 horns coming straight for my ambush, and making for the 

 wilds of the island 5 which, if he gained, adieu to him for 

 that day. Before he quite came up, I raised myself and 

 fired. He halted, and changed his course, but I was up to 

 him. I knew that if I could, by taking a short cut, gain 

 the pass where it entered Crap-na-Gower, I should be 

 pretty sure of an excellent chance. Billy had a long 

 circuit to make, and was. moreover, a good deal blown, so 

 the odds were in my favour. 



Throwing off my shooting-jacket, waistcoat, and neck- 

 cloth, I cut away at full speed, though in danger every 

 moment of tumbling into one or other of the natural pit- 

 falls, or of knocking my rifle to pieces against a rock. 

 Panting and toiling under the burning sun, I at last arrived 

 at the pass, and had scarcely five minutes to recover 

 breath, when William, equally done up, appeared, thunder- 



