202 CAMP-FIRES OF A NATURALIST. 



ever, was a failure, for the goat pitched heavily for- 

 wards and rolled down the mountain. Making his 

 way down, the naturalist found that he had killed 

 a large dry ewe, one of the finest specimens that he 

 had obtained. It was in perfect condition and was 

 fully as large as an ordinary male. 



Two more days were spent in the mountains in 

 unsuccessful hunting. The horses were running 

 down in flesh so rapidly and provisions were so low 

 that the necessity of leaving became at last deeply 

 impressed on the mind of the naturalist, and arrange- 

 ments were made to start. But Dyche was deter- 

 mined to have one more hunt. He started before 

 daylight for the mountains, in a heavy snow-storm. 

 Finding a bear-trail, he followed this some distance, 

 when it was crossed by a goat-track. Experience 

 had long since taught him the futility of follow- 

 ing a bear-track, so he turned his attention to that 

 of the goat. He followed it for about half a mile, 

 when the animal was seen going down a ridge. The 

 goat saw the hunter at about the same time and 

 started at full speed over the rocks. Dyche followed 

 the trail in the snow, hiding as much as possible, 

 and at last saw the animal standing on a project- 

 ing point, looking back. After long and circuitous 

 stalking it was found that the goat had hurried on 

 up the mountain. The track was again followed 

 until it entered a piece of timber. Here another 

 circuit was made and tracks of bears, wolverines, 

 and lynxes were seen, but the goat had not left the 

 woods. Dyche began circling around the mountain, 

 watching carefully. While creeping along in the 



