204 The Home of the Wolvere)te ami Beaver. 



with the utmost caution McLellan, who was an 

 excellent shot, and a man of iron nerve, seized his 

 rifle, and crawled away to try and stalk the wary 

 animal. His splendid frame had withstood the 

 privations to which they had been subjected better 

 than those of the other men, thus he was best 

 fitted for the toilsome task, and like a snake he 

 crept away amidst the snow, and was soon lost to 

 sight. B}' an effort of imagination we can perhaps 

 conjure up the sight of those twenty eyes eagerly 

 fixed upon the big-horn, and viewing with despair 

 its slightest change of position. If the sheep raised 

 its fore foot or shook its armed head a tremor ran 

 through the ranks, for might not the movement 

 precede departure .'' 



" Surely he has had time to make a safe circuit 

 and ascend the hill.''" \\hispered one of the most 

 impatient, and as though in answer to his almost 

 inaudible question, the sharp crack of a rifle rang 

 through the silent valley, and with one convulsive 

 bound into the air the big-horn fell dead, shot 

 straight through the heart. 



And now the pent-up feelings of each man found 

 vent, and cheers, feeble but heartfelt, greeted the 

 resolute hunter as he emerged from his hiding-place, 

 and creeping to the ledge on which the slain animal 

 lay, rolled its body down the hill to his companions 



