e scrub-filled gorges was
really extraordinary, and I hope that a "game hog" never finds that
valley. Probably in no other part of China can one see as many
roebuck in a space so limited. It is due, of course, to the unusual
conditions. Instead of being scattered over a large area, as is
usual in the forest where there is an abundance of cover, the
animals are confined to the few ravines in which brush remains. The
surrounding open hills isolate them almost as effectively as though
they were encircled by water; when driven from one patch of cover
they can only run to the next valley.

The facility with which the roebuck and wapiti had adapted
themselves to utterly new conditions was a continual marvel to me,
and I never lost the feeling of surprise when I saw the animals on
the open hillside or running across the rolling, treeless uplands.
Had an elephant or a rhinoceros suddenly appeared in place of a
deer, it would not have seemed more incongruous.

After we had killed the first wapiti we did not fire a shot for two
days, even though roebuck were all about us and we wanted a series
for the Museum. This species, _Capreolus bedfordi_, is smaller both
in body and in antlers than the one we obtained in Mongolia and
differs decidedly in coloration.

On the second hunt I, alone, saw forty-five roebuck, and Harry, who
was far to the north of me, counted thirty-one. The third day we
were together and put out at least half as many. During that time we
saw two wapiti, but did not get a shot at either. Both of us were
becoming decidedly tired of passing specimens which we wanted badly
and decided to go for roebuck regardless of the possibility of
frightening wapiti by the shooting. Na-mon-gin and the other hunters
were disgusted with our decision, for they were only interested in
the larger game. For the first two drives they worked only
half-heartedly, and although seventeen deer were put out of one
ravine, they escaped without giving us a shot.

Harry and I held a council of war with the natives and impressed
upon them the fact that we were intending to hunt roebuck that day
regardless of their personal wishes. They realized that we were not
to be dissuaded and prepared to drive the next patch of cover in a
really businesslike manner.

Na-mon-gin took me to a position on the edge of a projecting rock to
await the natives. As they appeared on the rim of the ravine we saw
five roe deer move in the bushes where they had be