SPORT AND TRAVEL 87 



up a steep bit of cliff, I saw that his hind leg was 

 broken. I might have had a couple of shots at him, 

 at least, as he climbed that one hundred feet of rock 

 within easy range, but, alas ! I stood with an empty 

 rifle and no cartridges. Mustapha, understanding 

 my frantic signs, rushed back for my coat, but fum- 

 bled about and could not find the pocket; and when 

 at last I got hold of one it was just too late, for 

 even as I pushed it into the breech, the old ram 

 limped heavily out of sight behind a boulder on the 

 top of the opposite side of the ravine. Of course we 

 followed at once, but no trace could we find of the 

 wounded goat beyond where we had last seen him. 

 There was no blood, and the ground being all rock 

 and stone, his footsteps had left no trace. The even- 

 ing was fast closing in, and to add to our difficulties a 

 heavy shower of cold sleety rain commenced to fall. 

 For the time at least we were beaten, but for all that 

 I felt assured that the old ram was not far off, and by 

 no means despaired of recovering him on the morrow. 

 We were still searching about in the fading light 

 when the Doctor came right on to us, returning from 

 the upper part of the mountain. I soon explained 

 matters to him, and on our way to camp it was ar- 

 ranged that Mustapha should go that same evening to 

 his village, and return early the next morning with 

 five or six peasants to assist us in the search for the 

 wounded goat. 



Before daylight the next morning he was back 



