FRUITLESS TRACKING. 247 



red patch of my first bullet was plainly visible in 

 the middle of his body : it was surprising how 

 strong he went with such a wound. 



There was nothing for it but to follow. The 

 tracks led straight towards my camp, and actually 

 right up to within 50 yards of my tent. The 

 servants said that as he trotted quietly past them 

 they saw the wound, and expected every moment 

 to see him drop as he ascended the slope. As he 

 had gone up the hill, and we were at the camp, 

 and the hour barely eleven o'clock, I determined 

 to fortify myself with a good breakfast before 

 resuming the chase. 



In half an hour we were at it again, the ram 

 keeping steadily on without the smallest symptom 

 of giving in. Spur after spur we crossed, always 

 ascending, until at three o'clock we were right 

 on the top of the range and looking down on 

 the Khargoshi Pamir, with the Muskol or Ice 

 lake on the other side. The blood-tracks, which 

 had been getting scanty, at last disappeared, and 

 I realised that there was nothing for it but to re- 

 turn to camp. It was a grievous disappointment, 

 but the day was waning and the distance to cover 

 considerable ; also my shikari complained of feel- 

 ing unwell, and could go no farther. Sadly and 



