A shooting trip to Kamchatka . rising above the numerous ranges on the dimhorizon. East of us we could plainly see the Jupa-novskaia Sopka [sopka is the local term for a peak),an extinct volcano of over 8,000 feet, while duesouth rose, hardly visible, the graceful cone of Vil-utcha some hundred miles distant in a straifrht line :but such was the transparency of the atmosphere thatits outline was clearly defined against the lightnorthern sky. The imposing mass of the V^ershinastood out at close quarters, and the lake seemedbut a tiny blue speck lost in the depths of the few old rams enjo
A shooting trip to Kamchatka . rising above the numerous ranges on the dimhorizon. East of us we could plainly see the Jupa-novskaia Sopka [sopka is the local term for a peak),an extinct volcano of over 8,000 feet, while duesouth rose, hardly visible, the graceful cone of Vil-utcha some hundred miles distant in a straifrht line :but such was the transparency of the atmosphere thatits outline was clearly defined against the lightnorthern sky. The imposing mass of the V^ershinastood out at close quarters, and the lake seemedbut a tiny blue speck lost in the depths of the few old rams enjoying their siesta would havegreatly heightened the beauty of the picture, butalas! none were to be seen. The mosquitoes hadfollowed us even to these heights, where we mighthave expected to be at last free from their sat down to lunch in the middle of a snowfield,hoping in this way to get rid of the tiresome insects,but were soon to be mistaken, as they presentlyswarmed round us as thick as ever. The two animals. A HERD OF EWES 209 we had spied from below had lain down at the sameplace, and proved to be ewes. After a well-earned rest we started down the ridofe,working our way over rocks among craggy pinnacles,and peeping carefully into the ravines on either side,we found a herd of ewes and young 300 yards belowus. Adult rams seemed indeed very scarce, for wehad now examined great tracts of country continuouslyon the look-out from six to two withoutcatchino- si^ht of a sinole one. Remembering thatI had promised the director of the St. PetersburgMuseum to present him with a couple of Ozis nivicola,I seized the opportunity and proceeded to approachthe herd ; a few minutes later we were within fiftyyards of them as they unsuspiciously advanced amongthe rocks. Only one of the ewes was clear of herwinter coat, the others being in a beggarly patchycondition. As she stepped across the sight of myritie I dropped her dead, while her friends stoodgazing in all dire
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900, bookidshootingtrip, bookyear1904
