The Big Markhor 45 



corner of stone having a slight slope outwards. 

 The sheer wall of rock afforded no hand-hold, and 

 of course we had no rope, for in markhor stalk- 

 ing, though the advisability of being roped not 

 seldom occurs, such aids would be too much of 

 an encumbrance to be habitually carried. There 

 was no great difficulty about the step if the foot 

 did not slip, but on the ledge lay an inch or two 

 of snow, which the shikari going first with un- 

 hesitating nerve and assurance had not improved ; 

 so about that "if" there was a note of uncertainty. 

 It may be that it is the recollection of such 

 moments as these, when the heart has to be 

 hardened and the nerves taken in hand, that 

 makes a collection of mountain trophies one's 

 dearest possession. 



We arrived at the edge of the ravine into which 

 the herd had gone the night before as the sun 

 topped the mountains to the south, and slowly 

 raised ourselves to peer over. The herd was not 

 there. After some consultation it was decided 

 to go on to the next ridge, which they had prob- 

 ably crossed, when whizz ! thud ! a falling stone 

 plunged into the snow in front of us. We looked 

 up. Nothing was visible to the naked eye, but a 

 few seconds' examination with the glasses showed 

 us the herd moving leisurely up a grey stone shoot 

 far above us. Now a few steps, now a bound to 



