I'lii': rvKKNKAX ini:x 245 



question, ami was in>\v |.( rha|i> a|i}»roacliiiig just rouml 

 the corner. 



Now ( '\ril <iiiil(| (•(luiniaiid imirr ol'tliat part wliieli lay 

 close at liaiul lliaii 1 could, and lie saw the much-eoveted 

 pair <i(" liKi'Hs apjiroacliini:'. and alrcadx' witliin T(\a('li of liis 

 own ritli'. Loyally \\r ]r\ ilie bearded patriarc-li eome on 

 lo nil' — but iniauinc liis rc('lin"s wlun, o-lanciiii'' up at me, 

 he saw me steadily spying the distant clill", instead of 

 watehinu' the foreo-round. Still lif was proof aijainst tlie 

 temptation, so anxious was he that I should secure the 

 lir>t honours. In vain he tried liv a faint whisilt' to 

 attract my attention. The goat passed on out of his sight 

 towards nu\ Then followed an agonised pei'iod of sus- 

 pense, so prolonge(l ihat he thouuhf I must be asleep, till 

 he saw the glass hastily dropped and the ritle seized. Still 

 the shot did not follow, and he sup})osed I nuist somehow 

 have let the beast pass me. At last the rifle rang out. 

 He heard the stones clatter as the animal raced back the 

 wav he had eonie. The sound ceased, and the next moment 

 the dead ibex whirled past him through space, twisting as 

 it fell. In I'ealitw tlioUL;h 1 ke|)l the o-lass iihied to the 

 distant clitf, I had many years l)efore leai-ne(l the stalker's 

 trick of kee})ing the left eye 0})en, and I >aw the horns 

 of the ap[)roacliing animal the instant they a})[»ear((l i-ouiid 

 the corner. This histor\- miuht be described as the con- 

 fessions of a duffer, and it must be admitted that the beasi 

 was yery near me indee(l, before I discovereil thai, though 

 1 was ready, my rifle was still on half-cock. lloweyer. 

 •• /c Jtnt/fii.r," |'(.|- he it was. atlvanced with a dignified 

 hobble, and when within ten \ar<ls of me, he; came into 

 full \iew and instantly receiyed a slml full m the diost. 



