316 THE MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA 



follow them. After reaching the top of the wall, 

 which, at this place, is somewhere between 1500 

 and 2000 feet high, they were still visible against 

 the sky as they lingered, looking down in groups 

 of twos or threes. 



Throughout the entire ascent they did not make 

 a single awkward step, or an unsuccessful effort of 

 any kind. I have frequently seen tame sheep in 

 mountains jump upon a sloping rock-surface, hold 

 on tremulously a few seconds, and fall back baffled 

 and irresolute. But in the most trying situations, 

 where the slightest want or inaccuracy would have 

 been fatal, these always seemed to move in comfort 

 able reliance on their strength and skill, the limits 

 of which they never appeared to know. Moreover, 

 each one of the flock, while following the guidance 

 of the most experienced, yet climbed with intelli 

 gent independence as a perfect individual, capable 

 of separate existence whenever it should wish or be 

 compelled to withdraw from the little clan. The 

 domestic sheep, on the contrary, is only a fraction 

 of an animal, a whole flock being required to form 

 an individual, just as numerous flowerets are re 

 quired to make one complete sunflower. 



Those shepherds who, in summer, drive their 

 flocks to the mountain pastures, and, while watch 

 ing them night and day, have seen them frightened 

 by bears and storms, and scattered like wind- 

 driven chaff, will, in some measure, be able to ap 

 preciate the self-reliance and strength and noble 

 individuality of Nature's sheep. 



Like the Alp-climbing ibex of Europe, our moun 

 taineer is said to plunge headlong down the faces 



