246 THE KARAKUL PAMIR AND HOME. 



peared, we got on to a broad table-land about 

 a couple of miles across, and right in the middle 

 could distinguish the goolja walking slowly along. 



This was rather a sell, as we had expected to 

 find him dead, or at all events the next thing to 

 it. There was blood on his track, but not much, 

 so the only thing for it was a stern chase. We 

 soon lost sight of him, and had to set to work 

 and track. He led back towards the camp a 

 capital move, if only he would stop and let me 

 finish him. When we came again within sight, 

 he was crossing an open corrie, so we had to 

 wait until he had left it, then run hard to try 

 and get a shot ; but it was no go, he was again 

 out on the open. Here he lay down, but with 

 his head well up, quite on the look-out. There 

 was only one way to stalk him, by making a long 

 detour and trust to his remaining meanwhile. 



Getting at last round on to the ridge, I worked 

 down on my back over the gravel slope, until his 

 horns came within sight some 200 yards below. 

 Feeling it would be well to make certain of him, 

 I continued my descent, when suddenly he got up, 

 and as he stood, got a good view of me as I lay. 

 Away he went best pace, too far for a running 

 shot, and both barrels missed him clean. The 



