64 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



pected, did not hit the goat, which, disturbed by the 

 report, or the whizz of the bullet, trotted out from 

 its shelter for a few yards, and then bounded away 

 through the bushes. 



It must have been about midday when we reached 

 a broad, deep ravine, divided at its head into several 

 rocky corries, which are a favourite haunt, the Doc- 

 tor informed me, of wild goats, so we advanced very 

 cautiously and kept a sharp look-out. We had just 

 reached a point amongst some juniper-trees and 

 bushes which commanded a good view over a series 

 of rock terraces, sparsely sprinkled with trees and 

 bushes, when five goats showed themselves on one of 

 the highest ledges of rock, at a distance of about four 

 hundred yards from where we were sitting. They had 

 evidently been disturbed, probably by J. and the Turk, 

 and were coming down the mountain face pretty 

 quickly, in a line one behind the other, and at one 

 time seemed to be heading straight for where we were 

 sitting, but unfortunately turned off again. They were 

 all big rams, looking very white against the sombre 

 background of grey rocks and dark-foliaged juniper- 

 trees, and all seemed to carry good heads; but the old 

 billy that brought up the rear far excelled his com- 

 panions in this respect, and bore a pair of horns the 

 like of which has, I fancy, seldom been seen and never 

 obtained by a British sportsman. As I looked at him 

 with the glasses, I marked with what a symmetrical 

 sweep the long horns curved backwards, and on one 



