250 Hunting Trips on the Prairie 



puts it on its guard, while if it sees or smells any- 

 thing which it deems may bode danger it is off like 

 a flash. It is as wary and quick-sighted as the 

 antelope, and its senses are as keen as are those 

 of the elk, while it is not afflicted by the occasional 

 stupidity or heedless recklessness of these two 

 animals, nor by the intense curiosity of the black- 

 tail, and it has all the white-tail's sound common- 

 sense, coupled with a much shyer nature and much 

 sharper faculties, so that it is more difficult to kill 

 than are any of these creatures. And the climbing 

 is rendered all the more tiresome by the traits above 

 spoken of, which make it necessary for the hunter 

 to keep above it. The first thing to do is to clamber 

 up to the top of a ridge, and after that to keep on 

 the highest crests. 



At all times, and with all game, the still-hunter 

 should be quiet, and should observe caution, but 

 when after mountain sheep he must be absolutely 

 noiseless and must not neglect a single chance. He 

 must be careful not to step on a loose stone or to 

 start any crumbling earth; he must always hunt 

 up or across wind, and he must take advantage 

 of every crag or bowlder to shelter himself from 

 the gaze of his watchful quarry. While keeping 

 up as high as possible, he should not go on the very 

 summit, as that brings him out in too sharp relief 

 against the sky. And all the while he will be cross- 

 ing land where he will need to pay good heed to 

 his own footing or else run the risk of breaking his 

 neck. 



