232 ACROSS MONGOLIAN PLAINS 



elephant or a rhinoceros suddenly appeared in place 

 of a deer, it would not have seemed more incongruous. 



After we had killed the first wapiti we did not fire 

 a shot for two days, even though roebuck were all about 

 us and we wanted a series for the Museum. This spe- 

 cies, Capreolus hedfordi, is smaller both in body and in 

 antlers than the one we obtained in Mongolia and dif- 

 fers decidedly in coloration. 



On the second hunt I, alone, saw forty-five roebuck, 

 and Harry, who was far to the north of me, counted 

 thirty-one. The third day we were together and put 

 out at least half as many. During that time we saw 

 two wapiti, but did not get a shot at either. Both of 

 us were becoming decidedly tired of passing specimens 

 which we wanted badly and decided to go for roebuck 

 regardless of the possibility of frightening wapiti by 

 the shooting. Na-mon-gin and the other hunters were 

 disgusted with our decision, for they were only inter- 

 ested in the larger game. For the first two drives they 

 worked only half-heartedly, and although seventeen 

 deer were put out of one ravine, they escaped without 

 giving us a shot. 



Harry and I held a council of war with the natives 

 and impressed upon them the fact that we were intend- 

 ing to hunt roebuck that day regardless of their per- 

 sonal wishes. They realized that we were not to be 

 dissuaded and prepared to drive the next patch of cover 

 in a really businesslike manner. 



Na-mon-gin took me to a position on the edge- of a 

 projecting rock to await the natives. As they ap- 



