148 SPORT AND TRAVEL 



A cup of steaming coffee, and we started single file 

 for the head of the nullah, where, during the past 

 few days, several herds had been marked down. As 

 we entered the upper section, the big mountain at 

 its head was beginning to glow ; the hillsides on the 

 right were emerging from shadow, and gradually we 

 could make out several dark spots about half-way 

 up to the first ridge. They were the big herd of ibex 

 which for two days past we had been watching 

 eagerly from a distance, hoping vainly to see them 

 move into a position where stalking would be pos- 

 sible. Now I saw at once that they were headed 

 straight up toward the ridge which topped the first 

 spur of the mountain ; behind this there was a de- 

 clivity; if they should disappear behind it, a suc- 

 cessful stalk might be made, for the wind was to- 

 ward us. 



With the greatest caution we crept along the base 

 of the mountain, crouched painfully, but not daring 

 to let ourselves be seen for a moment. A single 

 glimpse of us would send the whole herd dashing 

 off in a panic to their mountain retreats. When im- 

 mediately below them, we halted and without a 

 whisper or motion waited and watched. They were 

 maddeningly slow in their ascent to the ridge. This 

 formidable mountain-side which they were taking 

 so deliberately and easily now would, I knew, have 



