i2 4 A SPORTSMAN'S EDEN. 



best for us, hobbled and turned the horses loose, 

 and then climbed the slope of red-gold grass on 

 foot, going down wind until we crossed the saddle, 

 and then turning up along the upper edge of the 

 timber, where the grass began and the trees 

 ceased. Here was the very home and haunt of 

 the mountain sheep. Thick pine-forests stretched 

 away below us, growing thinner as they neared 

 the downs. Along the boundary-line between 

 the two were rocky moss-covered ledges, over- 

 grown with a strong heather-like plant. On these 

 ledges, and amongst this heathery growth, we 

 found scores of warm, wind-proof lairs or forms 

 in which the sheep had been wont to take their 

 siestas. Here, too, we found a rusty hunting- 

 knife which some former visitor had dropped. 

 Not five minutes before, Toma had been re- 

 gretting that he had left his knife behind. Now 

 his face beamed as he put the rusted blade 

 through his belt. ' I thought,' said the super- 

 stitious little fellow, ' that crackling in the fire 

 this morning meant a roast ; now ' (tapping the 

 knife) ' I know.' Here a crashing of boughs in- 

 terrupted us, and crouching down, we peered 

 through the scattered pines into the green dark- 

 ness beyond, where, after a moment, we caught 

 the quick flicker of gray bodies passing through 

 the ' timber. ' Only mowitz ' (deer), muttered 



