SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 



took careful aim and fired. To our chagrin the 

 bullets again fell far short of the sheep, which at 

 once made off with long bounds. Again and 

 again we fired, but missed hopelessly every time. 

 They crossed a low ridge into a second ravine, 

 presently appearing again, slowly climbing a 

 distant slope. Three other rams emerged from 

 the same ravine, and broke westward for the 

 highest ground. 



This was indeed disappointing. So clear was 

 the atmosphere that we could see every detail 

 of those rams as they had stood there on the 

 hillside, in spite of the fact that they must have 

 been from six to eight hundred yards distant. 

 Besides, not having seen an argali at close quarters, 

 we did not realize their immense size, and so judged 

 them to be much nearer than they were. \\e saw 

 no more sheep that day, though we both had a 

 shot at a large wolf. 



On our way back down the crest of a long ridge 

 we suddenly came upon two roe-deer, both of which 

 I bagged. At last, tired and hungry, but full of 

 enthusiasm, we returned to our quarters in K'uei- 

 hua-ch'eng, where we recounted our adventures 

 to our companions. 



The heavy day's climbing on top of our long 

 journey so tired us that we did not feel inclined 

 to go after sheep next day, but spent the time 

 overhauling tents and other gear, with a view 

 to making a camp right in the mountains, so 



115 



