156 TEN DAYS IN MONTANA. 



them. I saw at once, however, that this would be very diffi- 

 cult to do, for they were on the top of a small ridge that 

 commanded a full view of all the ground within three or four 

 hundred yards of them, except one very small cooley. If I 

 could get into this I could approach within short range of 

 them. But how to get there was the question. I made a 

 wide detour to get to leeward of them, keeping far enough 

 away to prevent them from seeing me. When the wind finally 

 blew squarely in my eye as I looked at them, I commenced 

 the approach. I sought the lowest ground I could find, but 

 go where I would I was in full view of them. Finally I 

 reached a low swale, in which, by lying down, I could con- 

 ceal myself from them. Here I crawled, prone upon the 

 ground, through cactus, sage brush and sharp, flinty stones, a 

 distance of three or four hundred yards. This at last brought 

 me to the cooley or ravine that I so longed to reach. Up 

 this I moved rapidly but stealthily until within about three 

 hundred yards of my game. Here the cooley turned squarely 

 to the left and would not carry me any closer if I followed it 

 further. So I must shoot from here or crawl again. 



Which shall I do? I can hit one of them from here, but 

 am somewhat tired and nervous from my long and laborious 

 crawling, and whether I can put the first ball where it will do 

 the most good is a serious question. Then after the first shot, 

 the subsequent ones must be made on the run, and the dis- 

 lance will render these still more uncertain. So I will crawl 

 again. But the sun has risen, is shining brightly, and as I 

 emerge from the cooley and start up the swale, though I lay 

 perfectly flat, my shadow is thrown strongly against the side* 

 of the ridge on the opposite side of the cooley. Will they 

 not see this, and take the alarm? Well, I can onlv hope not, 

 for there is no other course open to me. I move very slowlv 

 now, frequently stopping and peering cautiously over th\^ 



