SINO-MONGOLIAN FRONTIER 
took careful aim and fired. To our chagrin the 
bullets again fell far short of the sheep, which at 
once made off with long bounds. Again and 
again we fired, but missed hopelessly every time. 
They crossed a low ridge into a second ravine, 
presently appearing again, slowly climbing a 
distant slope. Three other rams emerged from 
the same ravine, and broke westward for the 
highest ground. 
This was indeed disappointing. So clear was 
the atmosphere that we could see every detail 
of those rams as they had stood there on the 
hillside, in spite of the fact that they must have 
been from six to eight hundred yards distant. 
Besides, not having seen an argali at close quarters, 
we did not realize their immense size, and so judged 
them to be much nearer than they were. We saw 
no more sheep that day, though we both had a 
shot at a large wolf. 
On our way back down the crest of a long ridge 
we suddenly came upon two roe-deer, both of which 
I bagged. At last, tired and hungry, but full of 
enthusiasm, we returned to our quarters in K’uei- 
hua-ch’éng, where we recounted our adventures 
to our companions. 
The heavy day’s climbing on top of our long 
journey so tired us that we did not feel inclined 
to go after sheep next day, but spent the time 
overhauling tents and other gear, with a view 
to making a camp right in the mountains, so 
115 
