Under the guidance of the monk, who, notwithstanding his years, walked very well, we reached the northern slope of the peak before mid-day.

Here, as he had said, we found a great cave of which the opening was protected by an over-hanging ledge of rock.

Evidently this cave was the favourite place of shelter for game at certain seasons of the year, since in it were heaped vast accumulations of their droppings, which removed any fear of a lack of fuel.
The rest of that short day we spent in setting up our tent in the cave, in front of which we lit a large fire, and in a survey of the slopes of the mountain, for we told the monk that we were searching for the tracks of wild sheep.

Indeed, as it happened, on our way back to the cave we came across a small herd of ewes feeding upon the mosses in a sheltered spot where in summer a streamlet ran.

Of these we were so fortunate as to kill two, for no sportsman had ever come here, and they were tame enough, poor things.