Journals of expeditions to Mongolia from 1919 to 1930
Page 74
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Transcription
70 with my glasses I scanned every square inch of rock but still no sight of life. Then the hunter said "There standing on that trail - he will come right to us" I tried again following the trail as it wound from us along the side of the temple like a ridge, and just before it vanished miles off I saw the shape, a splendid rare standing like a statue of gray brown granite, gazing squarely at us. He was fully half a mile away but the hunter had seen him the instant he appeared. Without my glasses the animal was nearly a blur to me and I doubt never have dreamed it was a living creature but the marvellous eyes of its nostril detected its every movement. "It is a very large one" he said "and has big horns much better than those others". That was quite alright but the others had given me a shot & this ram, splendid as it was, seemed as unattainable as the stars. For an hour we matched him. Now & then he would turn about & look across the prairies on either side or behind and once he came a dozen feet toward us along the trail. The hunter seemed quite unconcerned anyhow & gave him then looking through my glasses