CAPTIVE MOUNTAIN GOATS 337 



ranch on the bank of Elk River. The three animals 

 were kept in a small yard made of poultry netting, and 

 watched and tended by Mr. Smith's father. During the 

 entire summer, those animals were not out of the father's 

 sight in daylight for more than an hour at a time, and 

 as a result, they lived and throve. 



At first their food consisted of condensed cream, 

 properly diluted with water; and after that they were 

 fed on cow's milk, given in small quantities, but fre- 

 quently. Very soon they began to eat grass, cabbage 

 and dry bread, and after that, crushed oats. As they 

 grew older, hay became acceptable to them, and soon 

 formed, with cabbage, their principal diet. 



During the summer Mr. Smith had various advent- 

 ures with his strange little beasts, and one incident 

 which he described in a letter to his friend Mr. J. E. 

 Roth, of Pittsburg, presently found its way into print. 

 It appeared in Shields' Magazine under the caption 



A GAME WARDEN IN TROUBLE 



" I had some excitement lately in the exercise of my duties as game 

 warden. Mother started in to violate our good game laws. Father 

 had turned the pet sheep and goats out for exercise, and, as the day was 

 fine, Mother stepped out and left the hall door open. The sheep, being 

 near at hand, thought it a good time to explore new territory, so went in 

 at the door and up the stairs on the run. Mother heard the racket, and, 

 arming herself with a broom, did wilfully, and, disregarding the game 

 laws, pursue the said sheep. 



"After an elaborate stalk, she found it in my room, standing in the 

 middle of my bed, and she made a charge. The sheep dashed around 

 the room, over books and flowerpots, and down the stairs, four steps 

 at a time. The dining-room door was open, and the table was set for 



