The Stories of Two Ibex 29 



be seen. Opposite us where the ibex lay, a wall 

 of rock abutting up to a dizzy height overhung 

 the chasm. The noise of loud rushing waters 

 filled our ears, and from every crevice and gully 

 streams flung themselves into space, but swept 

 away by currents of air, became wreaths of smoke 

 before they could touch rock again. My imagin- 

 ation as to the sort of ground ibex ought to be 

 shot on was thoroughly satisfied, and all that 

 remained was to do it. I wanted to take my 

 shot there and then as they were, lying down ; 

 but my shikari not at that time Gul Sher 

 insisted on my waiting till they rose and gave 

 me a broadside shot. We should perhaps have 

 whistled them to their feet, but did not. So, 

 wet and shivering with cold and excitement, I 

 waited, and just when I least expected it the 

 ibex rose simultaneously to their feet, moved 

 along their gallery, and were gone. A puff of 

 air had no doubt told them of our presence. It 

 seemed like a moment of time, but I had fired 

 two aimed shots and both misses ! We never 

 saw those ibex again, and next day I had to 

 return to Gilgit. Thus ended my first stalk. 



Let me ask my readers to accompany me now 

 on another stalk. It was some six years after 

 the episode of which an account has been given. 

 I had in the meantime been almost continually 



