Among the High Hills 125 



happened early, for the valley was very narrow and 

 the hills on either hand were steep and high. 



Springing to my feet, I climbed the nearest ridge, 

 and then made my way, by hard clambering, from 

 peak to peak and from crest to crest, sometimes 

 crossing and sometimes skirting the deep washouts 

 and canyons. When possible I avoided appearing 

 on the sky-line, and I moved with the utmost cau- 

 tion, walking in a wide sweep so as to hunt across 

 and up wind. There was much sheep sign, some of 

 it fresh, though I saw none of the animals them- 

 selves; the square slots, with the indented marks of 

 the toe points wide apart, contrasting strongly with 

 the heart-shaped and delicate footprints of deer. 

 The animals had, according to their habit, beaten 

 trails along the summits of the higher crests; little 

 side trails leading to any spur, peak, or other van- 

 tage-point from which there was a wide outlook 

 over the country roundabout. 



The bighorns of the Bad Lands, unlike those of 

 the mountains, shift their range but little, winter or 

 summer. Save in the breeding season, when each 

 master ram gets together his own herd, the ewes, 

 lambs, and yearlings are apt to go in bands by them- 

 selves, while the males wander in small parties ; now 

 and then a very morose old fellow lives by himself, 

 in some precipitous, out-of-the-way retreat. The 

 rut begins with them much later than with deer ; the 

 exact time varies with the locality, but it is always 



