212 IBEX SHOOTING 



only a single rifle, he could not secure more 

 than a single ibex. 



The three following days I bagged an 

 ibex on each, two males and an old female, 

 I wounded another large male so severely 

 that I fancied he was killed, and fired my 

 second barrel at another. The wounded 

 ibex came up to within thirty yards, the 

 blood streaming from its side, but before 

 I could reload it had gone too far. We 

 could not follow, for the sun was going 

 down, and the ground, difficult to traverse 

 even in daylight, would be impracticable in 

 the dusk. 



The 9th was Sunday, and right glad were 

 we to have a day of rest. Monday and 

 Tuesday we changed our ground, but did not 

 do much, getting only one ibex ; we saw 

 three patriarchs, splendid old fellows, they 

 were too far off, and we had to risk a long 

 shot, as there was not time for the stalk. 



Wednesday. A very heavy fall of snow, 

 which drove us home at last, after facing the 

 storm for some hours in the vain hope of its 



