SPORT AND TRAVEL 65 



occasion when he stood for a moment on a rock and 

 turned his head towards us, I could see that the points 

 of his horns diverged from one another, the ends being 

 plainly visible on either side of the thick part of the 

 horn that rose immediately above the head. However, 

 I had not much time for observation, as the goats were 

 advancing rapidly but cautiously, halting at every few 

 yards, and at such times being unusually sheltered by 

 bushes. 



Soon they reached the brink of a little corrie, and 

 the foremost animal seemed undecided whether to 

 enter it, or keep along its edge. Had he decided 

 upon the latter step, he would probably have passed 

 with his companions within one hundred yards of our 

 ambush, but unfortunately he was not so accommodat- 

 ing; and as soon as he commenced to descend the 

 corrie I saw that I should have to shoot quickly or 

 not at all, so getting into position, I prepared for a 

 careful shot at the magnificent old ram that brought 

 up the rear of the party. The distance was about two 

 hundred yards, and as he stood for an instant, broad- 

 side on close to the stem of a large fir-tree, I fired a 

 very steady shot at him, taking the sight a little full. 

 At the shot he dashed forward, and in an instant was 

 out of sight amongst the rocks and bushes at the 

 bottom of the corrie. I had felt sure I had hit him, 

 not only because I had had a good sight of him at 

 the moment I pulled the trigger, but also because of 

 the way he had dashed forwards; and so, without 



