442 The Hunting Grounds 



bottom. Luckily it was gloriously clear night, and 

 the moon shone with a brilliancy rarely seen, except 

 in the tropics. Now and then a meteor darted across 

 the firmament, leaving a long train of light after it, 

 and then vanished from our sight. 



At last we reached the first vegetation, and towards 

 midnight entered a belt of pine-forest, where we felt 

 so utterly done-up with fatigue that we were obliged 

 to halt. After some trouble we made a huge fire, 

 and, having divided what brandy we had left amongst 

 us, rolled ourselves up in our blankets, too tired even 

 to eat or prepare coffee. Towards morning, having 

 somewhat recovered, I felt ravenous, and, although 

 so stiff that I could hardly crawl, managed to awake 

 Hoossain, who got some water and made coffee, 

 which, with biscuits and the remains of our provisions, 

 once more set us on our legs. 



We did not, however, think of moving until the 

 sun was high in the heavens. As we were skirting 

 the belt of pines, endeavouring to find out our old 

 track, I caught sight of a magnificent solitary old 

 buck-ibex, perched on a peak some short distance 

 below us, and, after some careful stalking, managed 

 to roll him over. He proved a splendid specimen ; 

 his coat being very silky, nearly white, and fifteen 

 inches in length. His horns measured thirty-four 

 inches. I cut off his head and skin, and we made the 

 best of our way to the deserted konac, where we 



