152 WILD LIFE IN NORTH CANARA. 



either up or down the precipice. " You 

 cannot go down, sahib ; but at about ; 

 two o'clock the ibex will feed slowly |' 

 upwards, and we can take you to a spot | 

 where they will come within shot." ' 

 Relinquishing all hopes of breakfast, 

 I sat down in the spot pointed out to 

 me, to wait the ascent of tlie ibex, j 

 while my guides went on to watch an 

 alternative position. Never did two 

 hours seem so interminable; but at 

 last, on a rock about sixty paces below 

 me, there suddenly and without warning 

 stood, like an apparition, an ibex and 

 her kid. As the pretty creature paused 

 for a moment and looked about her, I 

 fired; the ibex bounded into the air 

 and disappeared utterly. I saw nothing 

 more of her, and was resigning myself 



