CHAPTER LXXXII. 
THE WILD ASS 
JGUST 29th. Crossing over the hills which bordered 
the east side of the lake, and then a brook of clear 
bright water, we approached a broad trough-like valley 
paved with hard gravel, so that it was easy travelling 
for the animals. The lake was thus on our left. The 
stream which flowed into it formed an extensive delta at 
its western end. After that the lake was hidden behind 
a low, softly rounded ridge ; and on our right we had 
another similar ridge, beyond which the great snowy peaks 
of the Southern Mountains glittered in the distance. 
In the depression between the ridges, in which there 
were thin patches of grass, we surprised a khulan. As 
usual he ran on a short distance ahead of the caravan, 
pursued by the dogs, but took no further notice of them. 
Every time he stopped, he viewed the caravan with close 
attention and great wonder, pricked his ears, expanded his 
nostrils, and arched his head high. Islam Bai managed 
to get within range of him, by creeping down a ravine 
between two hills. He fired two shots at the wild ass ; but 
the animal moved off a few paces none the worse for them. 
He merely sniffed the wind, and gazed at us with continued 
curiosity and wonder. 
At the third shot he turned and trotted slowly off 
towards the east, but went rather lame. When we came 
up to his trail, we saw it was sprinkled with blood. The 
wild ass was evidently wounded. That being so, we must 
have the skin at all costs. We now took the khulan 
for our guide; but he led us further to the north than 
we wished to go. He was hit in the right hind -leg, 
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