MONGOLIAN ARGALI 209 



the ram had disappeared we made our way slowly 

 around the hilltop, whence he had come, to gain a con- 

 necting ineadow which would bring us to the ravine 

 where the argali were sleeping. On the way I was in 

 a fever of indecision. Ought I to have let that ram 

 go? He was just what we wanted for the group, and 

 something might happen to prevent a shot at the oth- 

 ers. It was "a bird in the hand" again, and I had been 

 false to the motto which had so often proved true. 



Then the "something" I had feared did happen. We 

 saw a grasscutter with two donkeys emerge from a 

 ravine on the left and strike along the grassy bridge 

 five hundred yards beyond us. If he turned to the 

 right across the upper edge of the meadows, we could 

 whistle for our sheep. Even if he kept straight ahead, 

 possibly they might scent him. The Mongol's face was 

 hke a thundercloud. I believe he would have strangled 

 that grasscutter could he have had him in his hands. 

 But the Fates were kind, and the man with his donkeys 

 kept to the left across the uplands. Even then my 

 Mongol would not hurry. His motto was "Slowly, 

 slowly," and we seemed barely to crawl up the slope of 

 the shallow valley which I hoped still held the sheep. 



On the summit of the draw the old hunter motioned 

 me behind him and cautiously raised his head. Then a 

 little farther. Another step and a long look. He 

 stood on tiptoe, and, settling back, quietly motioned 

 me, to move up beside him. 



Just then a gust of wind swept across the hilltop 

 and into the ravine. There was a rush of feet, a clat- 



