CHAPTER V 



THE MOUNTAIN GOAT AT HOME 



Our Welcome to Goatland — Three Goats Stampede through our 

 Camp — A Wild Spot — Mountain Color on a Gray Day — An Early- 

 Morning Caller — Goats at Rest — How Goats Climb — Stalking 

 Two Big Billies — Two Goats Killed — Measurements and Weight. 



John Phillips and I were scrambling along the 

 steep and rough eastern face of Bald Mountain, a few 

 yards below timber-line, half-way up 'twixt creek and 

 summit. He was light of weight, well-seasoned and 

 nimble-footed; I was heavy, ill-conditioned, and hungry 

 for more air. Between the slide-rock, down timber and 

 brush, the going had been undeniably bad, and in spite 

 of numerous rests I was almost fagged. 



Far below us, at the bottom of the V-shaped valley, 

 the horse-bell faintly tinkled, and as Mack and Charlie 

 whacked out the trail, the pack-train crept forward. We 

 were thankful that the camping-place, on Goat Pass, was 

 only a mile beyond. 



Presently we heard a voice faintly shouting to us 

 from below. 



" Look above you, — at the goatsl " 



Hastily we moved out of a brush-patch, and looked 



aloft. At the top of the precipice that rose above our 



slope, a long, irregular line of living forms perched 



46 



