The Big Markhor 43 



many cold days sitting out examining from 

 different points every square yard of the neigh- 

 bouring valleys. I think I may safely say that 

 never in my life was I so keen to get any beast 

 as I was to shoot that markhor ; and keen as I 

 was, Gul Sher was even more so, for it had eluded 

 us so often that he had begun to think that his 

 reputation depended on getting me a shot his 

 face, as he said, was "blackened" till he did so. 

 At last came a heavy fall of snow, and when 

 the air cleared, the patriarch was again with 

 the herd. We were watching the party one 

 evening as they appeared in single file out of 

 a ravine and wandered down into a deep snow- 

 filled ravine leading into the Shingye nullah. 

 Last of all came a markhor with very long straight 

 horns, which I picked out as the big one. Gul 

 Sher said, "No, that is a new-comer, and by his 

 size he must be the big one's own brother, but 

 our old friend will not be far off." Sure enough, 

 a hundred yards behind all emerged a markhor 

 the like of which has rarely been seen, with a 

 gigantic pair of horns both long and massive, 

 looking like the gnarled branches of a tree. 

 " That's the one," said Gul Sher, " and I should 

 know him well." It was getting dark as the 

 herd moved slowly down out of sight all except 

 the straight-horned one. He stopped behind, 



