was an opportunity for a
close easy shot; then without waiting that shot was to be sent whizzing
from the bow, the probability being that as there was no report, the
goats would not be much alarmed, and another chance might be afforded.

"Think we must have one this time, Mr Jack," whispered Ned, and they
started from behind the great block which now sheltered them, each
taking his own side.

From that moment Jack had no eyes for his companion, his attention was
centred upon the great father of the herd, to the left of which the two
half-grown kids were browsing upon the tender young shoots of the
bush-like growth.

It was nervous work, for every now and then the old goat raised his head
on high to take a long careful look round, and when he did, Jack
remained motionless where he had crawled. Directly he saw the tips of
the horns lowered he began to creep again, taking advantage of every
tree-trunk, stone, or bush, and always getting nearer, though still far
too distant to risk a shot. His hands trembled and were wet with
perspiration, and again and again he felt that he must be seen, and
expected to hear the beating of the animals' hoofs as they dashed off,
but the great curved horns, sweeping back like those of an ibex, were
still visible, and he crawled slowly on, forgetting all about Ned and
his progress.

At last, after many minutes devoted to the struggle upward, he reached a
spot sufficiently elevated to give him a view of the volcano whose
crater rose above the ridge, and forming; a background for the big goat,
which stood out plainly about forty yards away even now, and offering
itself for a shot, easy enough with a rifle, but very doubtful with a
bow and arrow. The lad was in a capital position, but unfortunately the
slope beyond offered no cover, and to have moved from it meant to be
seen at once, while, more unfortunately still, the two kids, which
should have shown themselves nearer, were now completely hidden by a
clump of dense growth twenty yards from where he lay.

"If I could only have got there," thought Jack, "how easy it would be."
But to have moved would have been to send the whole herd careering away,
and all he could do was to wait and see if the kids would at last come
from behind the shrubs.

"They may come nearer," he thought, and he softly fitted an arrow to the
bowstring, and waited for his opportunity, for he could do no more.

There he rested, bow and arrow held ready, in a ver