148 THE HIMALAYAN IBEX. 



immediately started in pursuit, and in the course of the next hour came across seven Musk 

 Deer, at all of which I might have had easy shots. At length we came to a narrow and 

 very steep ravine filled with hard snow, and I was with difficulty climbing up this, when I 

 suddenly saw the old Ibex on some rocks above me ; he was accompanied by two or three 

 females. Resting my elbows on a large stone, I had to get my Shikari to hold my feet while I 

 fired at the Ibex, who was standing facing me ; I felt sure of the shot, as the distance was 

 not more than one hundred 3 ards. On the smoke clearing away, however, the Ibex was 

 still in the same position. I now tried the second barrel, but with no better result, and he 

 made off. My Shikari then informed me that both my bullets had struck between the horns. 

 I was much annoyed at missing such a fair chance, and inwardly resolved that I would not 

 leave the valley until I had killed a similar beast. 



I went on to the very top of the range of hills, until I arrived above the spot where I 

 had killed a small Ibex a few days before. We lay down and watched the valleys beneath 

 us nearly all day. Towards evening I made out three animals at an immense distance, 

 and the telescope showed that they were fine old Ibex. I watched them go to some rocks 

 where I hoped to find them in the morning. 



Next day, long before daylight, I set out to look for the Ibex. When about a mile 

 from the place where I had last seen them I discovered them feeding by the river. Descend- 

 ing into a broad green valley where we were out of sight, we made for the rocks above them. 

 Several Bears were in our way, and I was rather alarmed lest in their retreat they should 

 disturb the nobler game, but fortunately they all went off up the hill. Having reached 

 the rocks we found that the Ibex had moved ; so we climbed carefully along the crags 

 above the river until we caught sight of six or seven fine fellows quietly feeding about six 

 hundred yards below us. We lay down and watched them for about an hour, and a careful 

 inspection through the glass showed them to be all grand old males with little to choose 

 between them. All this while two Snow Bears lay on a rock within one hundred and fifty 

 yards of us, coolly stretching themselves and looking at us. The Ibex having fed and 

 played about for a long time, at length lay down, one by one, under the shadow of a large 

 rock. After waiting a short time to see that they were comfortably settled, I began the 

 stalk. 



First going still farther up the hill, I made a circuit of half a mile, so as to get the 

 rocks, under whose shelter the Ibex had lain down, between myself and them. Having 

 again descended and reached their level, I cocked both barrels of my rifle, and crawled 

 carefully and silently over the few yards of ground which still intervened between me and 

 the rock, taking the utmost care not to rustle a leaf, and also keeping a sharp look-out lest 

 any of the wary brutes should outflank me. Having reached the spot from which I hoped 

 to get a shot, I paused a little to take breath, and then raising my head by inches, peered 

 carefully over. There, within ten yards, lay a noble Ibex on his side, fast asleep, with his 

 back turned towards me : the horns only of another were visible. Aiming between the 

 shoulders of the unconscious animal I slowly pressed the trigger, and the fine old buck lay 

 struggling on the ground. One other only went forward and stood at about fifty yards, 



