It ceased to be a solitary3 individual: for while they were gazing at it another ibex made its appearance upon the cliff, advancing towards the one first seen. The new comer was also a male, as its huge scimitar-shaped horns testified; while in size, as in other respects, it resembled the one already on the rock as much as if they had been brothers. It was not likely they were so. At all events the behaviour of the former evinced anything but a fraternal feeling. On the contrary, it was advancing with a hostile intent, as its attitudes clearly proved. Its muzzle4 was turned downward and inward, until the bearded chin almost touched its chest; while the tips of its horns, instead of being thrown back upon its shoulders—their usual position when the animal stands erect5—were, elevated high in the air. Moreover, its short tail, held upright and jerking about with a quick nervous motion, told that the animal meditated6 mischief7. Even at so great a distance the spectators could perceive this: for the forms of both the ibex were so clearly outlined against the sky, that the slightest motion on the part of either could be perceived with perfect distinctness.
The new comer, when first observed, appeared to be approaching by stealth—as if he intended to play the cowardly assassin, and butt8 the other over the cliff! Indeed, this was his actual design, as was discovered in the sequel; and had the other only remained for six seconds longer in the attitude in which he had been first seen, his assailant would no doubt have at once succeeded in his treacherous9 intent.
We are sorry to have to say that he did succeed—though not without a struggle, and the risk of being himself compelled to take that desperate leap which he had designed for his antagonist10.
It was probably the voice of Caspar that hindered the immediate11 execution of this wicked intention; though, alas12! it only stayed it for a short time. Caspar, on seeing the treacherous approach, had involuntarily uttered a cry of warning. Though it could not have been understood by the imperilled ibex, it had the effect of startling him from his dreamy attitude, and causing him to look around. In that look he perceived his danger, and quick as thought, took measures to avert13 it. Suddenly raising himself on his hind-legs, and using them as a pivot14, he wheeled about, and then came to the ground on all fours, face to face with his adversary15. He showed no sign of any desire to retreat, but seemed to accept the challenge as a matter of course. Indeed, from his position, it would have been impossible for him to have retreated with any chance of safety. The cliff upon which he had been standing16, was a sort of promontory17 projecting beyond the general line of the precipice18; and towards the mountain slope above his escape had been already cut off by his challenger. On all other sides of him was the beetling19 cliff. He had no alternative but fight, or be “knocked over.” It was less a matter of choice than necessity that determined20 him upon standing his ground.
This determination he had just time to take, and just time to put himself in an attitude of defence, when his antagonist charged towards him. Both animals, at the same instant, uttered a fierce, snorting sound, and rising upon their hind-legs, stood fronting each other like a brace21 of bipeds. In this movement the spectators recognised the exact mode of combat practised by common goats; for just in the same fashion does the ibex exhibit his prowess. Instead of rushing horizontally, head to head, and pressing each other backwards22, as rams23 do in their contests, the ibex after rearing aloft, come down again, horns foremost, using the weight of their bodies as the propelling power, each endeavouring to crush the other between his massive crest24 and the earth. Several times in succession did the two combatants repeat their rearings aloft, and the downward strokes of their horns; but it soon became evident, that the one who had been the assailant was also to be the conqueror25. He had an advantage in the ground: for the platform which his adversary occupied, and from which he could not escape, was not wide enough to afford room for any violent movements; and the imminent26 danger of getting a hoof27 over the cliff, evidently inspired him with fear and constraint28. The assailant having plenty of space to move in, was able to “back and fill” at pleasure, now receding29 foot by foot, then rushing forward, rising erect, and striking down again. Each time he made his onslaught with renewed impetus30, derived31 from the advantage of the ground, as well as the knowledge that if his blow failed, he should only have to repeat it; whereas, on the part of his opponent, the failure of a single stroke, or even of a guard, would almost to a certainty be the prelude33 to his destruction.
Whether it was that the ibex attacked was the weaker animal of the two, or whether the disadvantage of the ground was against him, it soon became evident that he was no match for his assailant. From the very first, he appeared to act only on the defensive34; and in all likelihood, had the road been open to him, he would have turned tail at once, and taken to his heels.
But no opportunity for flight was permitted him at any moment from the beginning of the contest; and none was likely to be given him until it should end. The only chance of escape that appeared, even to him, was to make a grand leap, and clear his adversary, horns and all.
This idea seemed at length to take possession of his brain: for all on a sudden he was keen to forsake35 his attitude of defence, and bound high into the air—as if to get over his adversary’s horns, and hide himself among the safer snowdrifts of the mountains.
If such was his intent it proved a sad failure. While soaring in the air—all his four feet raised high off the ground—the huge horns of his adversary were impelled36 with fearful force against his ribs37, the stroke tossing him like a shuttlecock clear over the edge of the cliff!
The blow had been delivered so as to project his body with a revolving38 impetus into the air; and turning round and round, it fell with a heavy concussion39 into the bottom of the valley; where, after rebounding41 full six feet from the ground, it fell back again dead as a stone.
It was some seconds before the spectators could recover from surprise at an incident so curious, though it was one that may often be witnessed by those who wander among the wild crags of the Himalayas—where combats between the males of the ibex, the tahir, the burrell or Himalayan wild sheep, and also the rams of the gigantic Ovis ammon, are of common occurrence.
These battles are often fought upon the edge of a beetling precipice—for it is in such places that these four species of animals delight to dwell—and not unfrequently the issue of the contest is such as that witnessed by our adventurers—one of the combatants being “butted” or pushed right over the cliff.
It does not follow that the animal thus put hors de combat is always killed. On the contrary, unless the precipice be one of stupendous height, an ibex, or tahir, or burrell, will get up again after one of those fearful falls; and either run or limp away from the spot—perhaps to recover, and try his luck and strength in some future encounter with the same adversary. One of the most remarkable42 instances of this kind is related by the intelligent sportsman, Colonel Markham, and by him vouched43 for as a fact that came under his own observation. We copy his account verbatim:—
“I witnessed one of the most extraordinary feats44 performed by an old tahir, that I, or any other man, ever beheld45. I shot him when about eighty yards overhead upon a ledge32 of rocks. He fell perpendicularly46 that distance, and, without touching47 the ground or the sides of the precipice, rebounded48, and fell again about fifteen yards further down. I thought he was knocked to atoms, but he got up and went off; and although we tracked him by his blood to a considerable distance, we were after all unable to find him!”
My young readers may remember that many similar feats have been witnessed in the Rocky Mountains of America, performed by the “bighorn”—a wild sheep that inhabits these mountains, so closely resembling the Ovis ammon of the Himalayas, as to be regarded by some naturalists49 as belonging to the same species. The hunters of the American wilderness50 positively51 assert that the bighorn fearlessly flings himself from high cliffs, alighting on his horns; and, then rebounding into the air like an elastic52 ball, recovers his feet unhurt, and even unstunned by the tremendous “header!”
No doubt there is a good deal of exaggeration in these “hunter stories;” but it is nevertheless true that most species of wild goats and sheep, as well as several of the rock-loving antelopes—the chamois and klipspringer, for instance—can do some prodigious53 feats in the leaping line, and such as it is difficult to believe in by any one not accustomed to the habits of these animals. It is not easy to comprehend how Colonel Markham’s tahir could have fallen eighty yards—that is, 240 feet—to say nothing of the supplementary54 descent of forty-five feet further—without being smashed to “smithereens.” But although we may hesitate to give credence55 to such an extraordinary statement, it would not be a proper thing to give it a flat contradiction. Who knows whether there may not be in the bones of these animals some elastic principle or quality enabling them to counteract56 the effects of such great falls? There are many mechanical contrivances of animal life as yet but very imperfectly understood; and it is well-known that Nature has wonderfully adapted her creatures to the haunts and habits for which she has designed them. It may be, then, that these wild goats and sheep—the Blondins and Leotards of the quadruped world—are gifted with certain saltatory powers, and furnished with structural57 contrivances which are altogether wanting to other animals not requiring them. It would not be right, therefore, without a better knowledge of the principles of animal mechanism58, to contradict the statement of such a respectable authority as Colonel Markham—especially since it appears to be made in good faith, and without any motive59 for exaggeration.
Our adventurers had entered into no discussion of this subject on observing the descent of the ibex. Indeed, there was nothing to suggest such speculations60; for the creature had fallen from such an immense height, and come down with “such a thump” upon the hard turf, that it never occurred to any of them to fancy that there was a single gasp61 of breath left in its body. Nor was there; for on reaching the ground after its rebound40, the animal lay with limbs loose and limp, and without sign of motion—evidently a carcass.
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1
illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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3
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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muzzle
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| n.鼻口部；口套；枪(炮)口；vt.使缄默 | |
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erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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6
meditated
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| 深思，沉思，冥想( meditate的过去式和过去分词 )； 内心策划，考虑 | |
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7
mischief
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| n.损害，伤害，危害；恶作剧，捣蛋，胡闹 | |
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butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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treacherous
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| adj.不可靠的，有暗藏的危险的；adj.背叛的，背信弃义的 | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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11
immediate
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| adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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13
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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pivot
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| v.在枢轴上转动；装枢轴，枢轴；adj.枢轴的 | |
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15
adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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promontory
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| n.海角；岬 | |
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precipice
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| n.悬崖，危急的处境 | |
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beetling
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| adj.突出的，悬垂的v.快速移动( beetle的现在分词 ) | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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brace
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| n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备 | |
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backwards
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| adv.往回地，向原处，倒，相反，前后倒置地 | |
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rams
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| n.公羊( ram的名词复数 )；(R-)白羊（星）座；夯；攻城槌v.夯实（土等）( ram的第三人称单数 )；猛撞；猛压；反复灌输 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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imminent
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| adj.即将发生的，临近的，逼近的 | |
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hoof
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| n.(马，牛等的)蹄 | |
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28
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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29
receding
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的现在分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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impetus
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| n.推动，促进，刺激；推动力 | |
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derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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ledge
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| n.壁架，架状突出物；岩架，岩礁 | |
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prelude
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| n.序言，前兆，序曲 | |
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defensive
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| adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的 | |
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forsake
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| vt.遗弃，抛弃；舍弃，放弃 | |
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impelled
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| v.推动、推进或敦促某人做某事( impel的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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38
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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39
concussion
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| n.脑震荡；震动 | |
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40
rebound
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| v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回 | |
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41
rebounding
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| 蹦跳运动 | |
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42
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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43
vouched
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| v.保证( vouch的过去式和过去分词 )；担保；确定；确定地说 | |
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44
feats
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| 功绩，伟业，技艺( feat的名词复数 ) | |
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45
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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46
perpendicularly
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| adv. 垂直地, 笔直地, 纵向地 | |
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47
touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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48
rebounded
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| 弹回( rebound的过去式和过去分词 )； 反弹； 产生反作用； 未能奏效 | |
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49
naturalists
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| n.博物学家( naturalist的名词复数 )；（文学艺术的）自然主义者 | |
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50
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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51
positively
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| adv.明确地，断然，坚决地；实在，确实 | |
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52
elastic
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| n.橡皮圈，松紧带；adj.有弹性的；灵活的 | |
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53
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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54
supplementary
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| adj.补充的，附加的 | |
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55
credence
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| n.信用，祭器台，供桌，凭证 | |
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56
counteract
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| vt.对…起反作用，对抗，抵消 | |
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structural
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| adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的 | |
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mechanism
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| n.机械装置；机构，结构 | |
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59
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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60
speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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