yaks, he could approach
behind it, and that would bring him within distance of the one or two of
the herd that were nearest. Indeed, the whole flock appeared to be
inclining towards the rock; and he calculated, that by the time he could
get there himself they would all be near enough, and he might make
choice of the biggest.

Up to this time he had remained under cover of the timber, at the point
where he first came in sight of the yaks. Still keeping in the bushes,
he made a circuit, until the rock was put between him and the herd. Big
as the boulder was, it hardly covered the whole flock; and much caution
would be required to get up to it without alarming them. He saw that if
he could once pass over the first one hundred yards, the rock, then
subtending a larger angle of vision, would shield him from their sight,
and he might walk fearlessly forward. But the first hundred yards would
be awkward stalking. Crawling flat upon his breast appeared to be his
only chance. But Caspar had often stalked chamois on his native hills;
and many a crawl had he made, over rocks and gravel, and ice and snow.
He thought nothing, therefore, of progression in this way, and a hundred
yards would be a mere bagatelle.

Without farther hesitation, therefore, he dropped to his marrow-bones,
and then flat upon his breast, and in this attitude commenced wriggling
and shuffling along like a gigantic salamander. Fortunately the grass
grew a foot or more in height, and that concealed him from the view of
the yaks. On he went, pushing his gun before him, and every now and
then raising his eyes cautiously above the sward to note the position of
the herd. When it changed, he also deflected slightly from his course--
so as always to keep the centre of the rock aligned upon the bodies of
the animals.

After about ten minutes of this horizontal travelling, the hunter found
himself within thirty paces of the great boulder. Its broad sides now
appeared sufficient to cover the whole flock; and as crawling along the
ground was by no means pleasant, Caspar was fain to give it up, and take
once more to his feet. He rose erect, therefore; and running nimbly
forward, in another moment he stood behind the rock.

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

CASPAR RETREATS TO THE ROCK.

Caspar now perceived that the rock was not all in one piece. In other
words, there were two rocks--both of them immense boulders, but of very
unequal size. The largest, as alrea