156 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



rock and made beds, which were lined with gravel 

 and smooth stones and were dry, showing that they 

 had been occupied very recently. There were over 

 seventy of these beds, and Dyche began to work very 

 carefully, for he was confident that he was near a 

 large band. About half a mile from the beds he 

 reached the edge of the flat top of the mountain, and 

 crawling to the edge he peered over. A great, un- 

 dulating slope stretched from the mountain-top to the 

 woods on the other side, and this was scanned closely, 

 until at last the naturalist made out moving objects 

 below. They were sheep, and over thirty were in 

 sight at one time. The wind was in the hunter's fa- 

 vour, but the country was bad for stalking, as the 

 animals were feeding over a large open space and 

 were scattered in small bands. 



Making a long circuit, Dyche went down a canon 

 and approached the game from another direction. 

 From his new position he could count fifty-seven 

 sheep, but the nearest was three hundred yards 

 away, and the naturalist could see no way of getting 

 nearer without being seen. He took another two- 

 mile circuit and again approached the timber. From 

 its edge he crawled up a small ravine, fearing each 

 minute that some of the animals would take alarm and 

 scatter the band. The head of the ravine was finally 

 reached, and lifting his head carefully he saw five 

 sheep within a hundred yards. Two old ewes and 

 three small bucks, probably yearlings, were feeding 

 within easy range, but Dyche wanted a lamb, and 

 hesitated whether to shoot at the sheep in sight or 

 wait for a better opportunity. 



