TWENTY YEARS IN THE ROCKIES. 183 



with their tails repeatedly, while over all sounded the lonely 

 cry of the owl. The snapping of dry sticks aroused me from 

 a semi-conscious state, and I saw a large bull elk dash 

 through the brush and across the creek before I could get 

 my gun. His eyes like two jack lamps as he passed. 



John came up through the willows just then, and, after 

 a warm supper, we stretched our weary limbs before the 

 fire and recounted the adventures of the day. John had 

 killed three deer, and I told him of my deer and the skunk, 

 but paused to take breath before I mentioned the bear. 



"But what makes you look so lank?" he inquired? 

 "Your clothes fit you closer than they did when we started 

 out." 



"Only a swimming race with a grizzly. You should 

 have seen me when it was over," I said. We had a big 

 laugh after all was told, but I assure you that I did not even 

 smile while the performance was going on. 



We then laid out the next day's work, which was a 

 hunt far up the stream. By daylight we were upon our 

 ponies, cantering toward the mountains with all of our 

 effects. Large numbers of grouse, eagles, hawks, antelopes, 

 and deer were seen,, but we pressed onward for the canyon, 

 reaching it about noon. While we were looking for a camp- 

 ing-place, a band of mountain sheep came rushing down 

 the precipice, rolling stones and logs before them. Our 

 pack-animals were very much frightened, and reared and 

 plunged wildly. The saddle-horses acted but little better, 

 and the shots we fired missed their marks, because our 

 horses would not stand still a moment. There were no trees 

 to which to tie the animals, but I finally fastened mine to a 

 heavy log, and, dropping upon one knee, sent a ball after the 

 leader. He fell, and I made eight more shots, killing three 

 sheep. The pack-horses that carried our provisions came 



