At St. Mary's 



the intention of ascending the slope of a 

 small spur or ridge near us. Over that 

 spur we should now be able to see our 

 game. We started out, creeping very, very 

 cautiously. The slope was steep, and we 

 had difficulty in going up without disturb- 

 ing the rock. 



" Look ! " 



Bang ! Bang ! 



Six badly frightened and unhurt "big 

 horns " were scampering over the rocks. 



Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! 

 Bang ! A perfect fusillade rang out. Over 

 a ridge and around a crag disappeared six 

 leaping forms. 



It had taken about thirty seconds. Sud- 

 denly, as we were nearing the top of the 

 ridge, the animals had appeared on our 

 left, had immediately seen us, and stopped. 

 I had seen them as they appeared, had had 

 but one idea, — that they would get away 

 if not instantly shot, — had called out, and 

 turning, as I half knelt, half lay, on the 

 slope, had fired off-hand, and — missed. 

 Hardeman had done the same thing. We 

 had then both jumped up, and fired a half- 

 dozen bullets in the general direction of 

 the fleeing game, without in the slightest 



292 



