260 THE KARAKUL PAMIR AND HOME. 



a spur which concealed the spot, I managed after 

 some little time to distinguish a few in a depres- 

 sion among the rocks. Presently another head 

 appeared, and crawling on a little farther, we saw 

 them all lying about 120 yards off. The cover of 

 stones was very scanty, so I dared not raise my 

 head for a full view, knowing that, had they but 

 a glimpse of it, they would be up and away ; 

 so I got my rifle ready, and prepared to shoot the 

 first with a good head that gave me the chance. 

 I had not long to wait before one was on his 

 legs, but tail on to me. His horns seemed to 

 stick out well, so I decided to shoot the moment 

 he turned. He walked on, taking a bite here 

 and there, carefully keeping his tail in my 

 direction. At last he turned and scratched his 

 ear with his hind-leg, and as he did so my bullet 

 plugged into his ribs. 



Preparing to take a shot at another, I waited 

 for them to make the usual pause after a spurt 

 up-hill ; but they were a real wild lot, evidently 

 knowing what a shot meant, and never stopped a 

 second. There was nothing for it but to chance 

 a couple of running shots at two others, who had 

 been a little apart, as they sprang up the hill to 

 join the rest. However, it was to no purpose, 



