126 CAMP-FIRES IN THE CANADIAN ROCKIES 



overhung so much that the animals could not be seen 

 from above. Later on, when they descended to their 

 camp in the valley, and looked up at the mountain wall, 

 they saw their lost goats, five in number, perched far 

 aloft, on a narrow ledge. When night descended, the 

 goats were still there. 



The next morning, the hunters were surprised at 

 finding that during the night the animals had not moved; 

 nor did they move during that entire day. Then Mr. 

 Brewster and his companions became convinced that the 

 goats had trapped themselves, and were unable either to 

 go on or retreat. The band consisted of two adult goats 

 and three young ones. Naturally it was the older ani- 

 mals that led the way into the danger, and it was the 

 belief of the party that the adult goats could not retreat 

 the way they came because the young ones blocked the 

 way, and were unable to go back. It was thought that 

 the ledge was so narrow the goats could not turn upon 

 it, and the kids were unable to back out. We know that 

 a young goat can easily turn on a twelve-inch ledge, pro- 

 vided the wall does not overhang; but an overhanging 

 wall can make turning impossible. 



Mr. Brewster and his party became so Interested in 

 the fate of the trapped goats that they remained in that 

 camp long enough to witness the end of the tragedy. 

 One by one, those poor goats fell from their ledge, and 

 were dashed to death on the slide-rock, hundreds of feet 

 below. The hunters saw one of them fall; but the most 

 of them fell at night. The last one fell on the tenth day 

 after they took refuge on the fatal shelf. 



