196 BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY. 
stalkers. He was a few yards above the other two, and certainly had the le rgest 
horns of all. Ina direct line, they were not more than a mile from us, but to 
get to them we had certainly to go double the distance, down to the bottom of the 
velley, across the stream, and upagain over some precipices that, from this side, 
looked utterly impossible. It did not take us long to rush down to the bottom 
but going up was much slower work. We had some trouble getting across the cliffs. 
There was luckily a goat path along the rocks that Mirza knew and followed. 
There were bad places in it here ‘and there, but they were all crossed without a 
thought in the presence of the game above us. After this, going along the hill- 
side was easy enough, and I think we got into position above our quarry 
within an hour from our start. They had not moved from the spot where we 
had marked them down, and the large-horned one was. still taking his ease 
near the white rock. By cautious creeping we got within fifteen yards of the 
large one in our front, and about thirty from the other two feeding below us. 
This was a most exciting positioa to be in, but it was also a most uncomfortable 
and trying one for me who had to use the rifle. The slope of the hill was very 
abrupt, and I could not get firm footing on the crumbling earth. I was stand- 
ing behind a rock, partially covered by the branches of a small tree. When I 
stood on tip-toe, I could see the ibex lying down gazing steadily across the valley. 
There was a shallow water channel between us. When I stooped down I could 
see him indistinctly between the leaves of the tree. In neither position could 
I fire, and the excitement and uncertain footing were telling on my nerves! 
I bore this for at least two minutes, looking right into the eyes of the unconscious 
buck and admiring the splendid sweep of his horns. There was a far-off look 
in his large liquid eyes, as if he were watching for danger on the hill-side oppo- 
site, where we must have been under his view an‘hour ago ; he certainly was not 
conscious of the danger within fifteen yards of him! Sometimes he would lazily 
shake his head and flap his ears to drive the flies off, then he certainly looked 
into my eyes, but the thick screen of leaves and the rock prevented discovery. 
The wind was, of course, in the right direction for us. There was a small round 
vacant space among the leaves throngh which, I thought, I could bring 
the sights to bear on the buck’s shoulder as he lay, but I still had to raise 
myself on my toes a little, and that was not a steady position for a shot! ~ There 
was, however, no other way, and I had to chance it. Motioning Sharofa to 
hold up my feet with his hands, I stood on tip-toe, took aim and fired. Of 
course I missed! The buck sprang to his feet and stood confounded for a 
moment andI gave him the second barrel of No. 1. I missed aga! The ibex 
vanished round the hill and [ thought seriously of suicide; but Sharofa brought 
me to my senses by telling me to look out for the other two. 1 turned round 
and went down a few paces but no bucks could be seen. A minute after, as 
we stood motionless, ready for their appearance, one of them rushed from under 
our position to my right about 40 yards off. He was going at a good space, but I 
tumbled him over like a rabbit with a bullet through his neck.—Bombay Gazette. 
