THE HIMALAYAN IBEX. 151 



was a general movement among the herd. First, an old female rose, and after gazing 

 earnestly down the hill for some time began to slowly descend. Another and another followed 

 her example, until all that were visible were walking in our direction, and last of all six 

 grand old males, conspicuous by their whiteness, came out from the shade of some trees 

 where they had been lying all day, and joined the rest of the herd. This was the signal 

 for a general advance ; the Ibex gradually quickened their pace and at last came down the 

 hill at full gallop, evidently with the intention of crossing the stream a little lower down the 

 valley. 



Presently they were out of sight, and now came the opportunity for which we had waited 

 so long. Seizing our rifles, we sprang to our feet and started at best pace down the hill. 

 Having reached the watercourse I found that A, who had not had much practice in moun- 

 taineering, had been outpaced, and I had to wait for him. This was annoying, as moments 

 were precious, although I was chiefly anxious on his account. However, he was not very far 

 behind, and on his overtaking me, we followed the stream until we reached the place where, 

 as we saw by the tracks, the Ibex had crossed it. 



The wind was all right, and I knew that they could not be far off. Parallel ravines ran 

 from the top of the ridge which we had just left to the bed of the stream : down one of 

 them we had just come, and it was probable that the herd were in the one ahead of us- 

 Climbing up some low rocks, we looked into it and saw the Ibex unsuspiciously feeding on 

 the opposite side. 



The large males were nearly a hundred and fifty yards off, but in good positions, so I 

 pointed one out to A, and told him to take the shot, while I would look out for my opportunity. 

 A's aim was true, and the Ibex fell dead. The startled herd rushed in various directions, and 

 a fine fellow coming rather towards me, I hit him hard with a solid Henry bullet (I had no 

 Express rifle in those days). He went slowly away and I fired two or three more shots, hitting 

 him again, and at last stopping him. 



We now went to inspect A's first Ibex, which had a very handsome and perfect pair of 

 horns, nearly forty inches in length. We cut off the head, and then proceeded to recover my 

 buck. I had a rather awkward climb to reach him, and finding him still alive, had to give 

 him another shot. His horns, which measured forty-two inches, were much curved, and a very 

 perfect pair. 



It was now late, and it was evident that if we returned by the way we had come, it would 

 be far on in the night before we arrived at our tents. Our attendants, however, said they 

 knew of a short cut, and we accordingly started without loss of time. We had to go straight 

 up the hill above where we then were, and we had not gone far before we came to a sheer wall 

 of rock about twenty-five feet high, which seemed to be an effectual bar to our farther progress. 

 At some little distance, however, we discovered the withered stem of an old tree, which grew 

 close to the wall, and with the aid of one or two ropes, which we fortunately had with us, we 

 contrived to climb to the top. This was the only serious obstacle we encountered, but we 

 soon found that if this was the shortest way it was also the roughest and steepest, and the 

 remainder of the ascent was one enormous flight of stairs with steps from three to six feet 



