THE -450 EXPRESS. 91 



I made out three males emerging on an old landslip covered with short 

 green grass, and as they descended they skipped about in a most frolic- 

 some way. There was no means of approaching them, so we had to wait 

 till they had finished their repast and returned to the gorges ; you may 

 quite understand some time had elapsed, and we were much cramped. 

 Luckily the wind was well in our favour, so we commenced to get down 

 in the gorge next that into which they had retired, but all our efforts were 

 very nearly frustrated by some females and young, who were lying some- 

 where below us, and had not gone down on the landslips. Fortune 

 favoured us, however, for they were not aware of our proximity, and we 

 got over the males we wished to secure ; an overhanging rock supplied 

 me with a good look-out point, whence I carefully surveyed some six or 

 seven with my glasses. There was nothing very good amongst them, 

 although the horns were very perfect and symmetrical, the best being 

 very thick. I had two rifles with me, the old '450 single, and a double 

 '500 by a less known maker, which I had picked up at the eleventh hour 

 before starting on leave ; it shot well with 5drs. of powder, but, having 

 been originally sighted for only 4drs., there was a tendency to throw high 

 with snap shots. I drew a bead with the '450 at 250 yards at the best 

 male's shoulder, having put up the leaf for 200 yards, as he was a long 

 way from me, though a little below me ; the bullet passed over him, I not 

 having allowed enough for the difference in elevation of our respective 

 positions. He started violently, but he could not discern my whereabouts, 

 so I laid down the single and took up the double '500. I fired at him 

 again, but there was no apparent result. He started, but did not dare to 

 bolt in any direction. The others all got huddled together, I may say, 

 quite unable to ascertain the place of danger, and not daring to bolt. I 

 then fired the left barrel, and apparently hit somewhere, for he gave an 

 ugly wriggle, and fell down a little way before regaining his feet. I was 

 quite disgusted with my shooting, for away they all bolted down the 

 gorge, and over the ridge or angle into another. I snapped a shot at one 

 just before crossing the ridge, at my feet almost. This time my men 

 saw the bullet hit the rock over his back. I put down the 200 yards leaf, 

 and waited a moment after reloading. The last male stopped on the 

 ridge below before going* into the next gorge, to try to discover us. That 

 pause was fatal, for I drew a bead with the '450 at the point of his 

 shoulder, and he disappeared the instant I fired. As the smoke cleared 

 there was no game in sight. I was afraid I had missed, for it was a very 

 quick shot, almost a snap. On clambering down with great difficulty, I 

 sent one man over into the gorge, and he found the game dead. On 

 examination I discovered the bullet had gone high again, penetrating his 

 neck, which it smashed, death being instantaneous. I had aimed fine in all 

 cases, but I suppose I had overjudged the distances. His horns measured 

 over 27^in. round the curve, well shaped, and the best in the herd. The 

 skin was worthless, as the fall had knocked off much hair in patches, and 

 the under winter-coat of wool (pashmina) was falling out. The others 



