256 THE KARAKUL PAMIR AND HOME. 



flashed into my mind as a piece of ice came 

 floating along on our side, of about 8 to 10 yards 

 square, if it was thick enough it would bear us 

 over ! I chanced it, and jumping on as it came 

 by, shouted to my shikari to follow quickly, 

 which he promptly did, and we sailed quietly 

 down the stream. As it twisted about, it was 

 not long before the current swung us across to 

 the opposite side. This came off quicker than 

 we expected, and as soon as there was a chance 

 we jumped on to the ice-edge, which gave a great 

 crack as we landed, but fortunately held. 



Taking up the track again, we made out our 

 beast, after a little while, ascending the lower 

 slopes of the opposite hill. He did not go very 

 far up before halting, and then lay down. The 

 wind, unfortunately, was blowing down the moun- 

 tain, and though we tried every way to get at 

 him from below, it was no good, he quite com- 

 manded the situation. 



Evening was coming on, and it was not pro- 

 bable, if left alone, that he would go far in the 

 night, whereas, if scared, he might go anywhere, 

 so we decided to leave him quiet and return in the 

 morning. Fortunately, we found a place where 

 the river was frozen over, and had not to risk an 



