THE BIG-HORN, OR MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 413 



ly appropriated by some prowling bear or cougar. This 

 important duty finished, we resumed our exploration for 

 the wounded animals, and in less than a minute came upon 

 a trail that plainly indicated the severity of their injuries, 

 as the blood formed a miniature stream in some places. 



Following that for half a mile, we came to a deep, broad 

 chasm, and down this we clambered, or rather stumbled, for 

 we were sliding more frequently than walking. Reaching 

 the bottom, we found that one of the sheep had followed 

 its course upward and the other down, so a party went in 

 each direction. I was with the latter, and was fortunate 

 enough to get a shot at a cougar that was quietly prepar- 

 ing to make a meal oft* one of the wounded animals, which 

 it had captured and slain. I don't know whether I hit it 

 or not ; but I am thoroughly sure I scared it a little, from 

 the way in which it dashed through the canyon. It cer- 

 tainly acted as if it had forgotten something lower down, 

 and was in the greatest possible hurry to get it. The 

 sheep on which it was preparing to feast was little injured, 

 it having had only time to cut the throat before it had or- 

 ders to leave. Making a litter of two fallen boughs, we 

 placed the slain creature upon it, and' in this way managed 

 to get it to the upper world. The other party were un- 

 successful in their search ; but as we could claim one ani- 

 mal for each member of the expedition, we did not repine 

 much at their ill-luck. Leaving this spot, we moved ob- 

 liquely to the left and upward in quest of more game, and, 

 after travelling two or three miles, came suddenly upon a 

 flock of twenty or thirty; but before we could recover 

 from our surprise they were dashing away. We fired at 

 random, little expecting any result from it; but we were 

 fortunate enough to get a splendid male, which was hit 

 right on the skull, and one ewe. This piece of good- 

 fortune we attributed more to the numbers of the flock 

 rather than to any marksmanship; so we felt little pride 

 in our achievement, for no one could tell who killed the 

 animals. 



Our experience of the morning having taught us the fol- 



