144 THE STRAIGHT-HORNED MARKHOOR. 



exhausted, and my ' Chaplis ' (a sort of sandal) had been cut to pieces by the sharp rocks, 

 so I had to borrow my Shikari's and get along as I best could. At last we halted to see if 

 there was any water in a small spring ; we found it a mass of mud, having been trampled 

 in by the Markhoor. As we reached it I happened to look up, and saw a flock of Markhoor 

 within one hundred yards. I sent for my rifle, which had been left a short distance below, 

 and had just time to put in two cartridges before the Markhoor began to move. I fired at 

 the biggest one, and seeing him stagger, fired the other barrel at him. Unfortunately a 

 small one got in the way and was knocked over, but the first one only went a few yards 

 before he also fell. 



We cleared out the spring, and managed to procure a few drops of water which we 

 gladly drank — black as ink though it was. I thought I should never reach the top of the 

 hill, and I was thoroughly tired out when I at last got home. 



On the 26th I took a rest, and I was just going out shooting again on the 27th, when I 

 received a telegram which necessitated my immediate return. 



Having sent off all my baggage, I left Sheikh Biidi'n about 3 A.M. on the 28th, and 

 went down to a ridge from which there was a good look-out. It was still dark when I got 

 there, so I sat down and waited for daylight. Soon after dawn we saw Markhoor on the 

 opposite hill, so we crossed over to look for them. They had gone, however, and though 

 we explored some most likely-looking precipitous ravines, we could see nothing of them. 

 Going along the ridge in the direction of Paniala (the dak bungalow at the foot of the hill) 

 we met a flock coming over from the other side. They were only about one hundred yards 

 off, but the sun was in my eyes, and I had to get Shahzada to shade them before I could 

 fire. I picked out the biggest male, which galloped a short distance and then fell dead. 



