414 SPORTING ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST. 



ly of a direct pursuit, we stored the game, and moved on 

 along the original line of route. We had not proceeded 

 more than a mile before we met another flock ; but, as they 

 were on the opposite side of a precipice, we could not ap- 

 proach them undetected. They were at least five hundred 

 yards away; and knowing we could have little chance of 

 killing any at that distance, we concluded to test the range 

 and accuracy of our rifles upon them. Selecting a huge 

 crag for a shelter, one of the miners fired, but his bullet 

 passed over them. Another tried it, and he planted the 

 ball directly in their midst. This seemed to arouse them ; 

 as they all jumped from the ground at the unusual appari- 

 tion, then stared wildly about. Several more bullets were 

 then sent among them ; but, instead of attempting to run 

 away, they only began to stare and jump, and dance a 

 queer sort of jig as the balls whistled over, or tore up the 

 ground beside them. One at length got struck somewhere 

 near the flank, and that caused it to think the locality dis- 

 agreeable, if not dangerous; so it gave a startled jump and 

 dashed away, closely followed by the others. As they were 

 moving off, we saw a sturdy ram hastily run up the preci- 

 pice and bound after them. We could not understand why 

 the flock waited to be shot at several times, but the un- 

 expected presence of this veteran soon gave the proper 

 explanation. It was his privilege, apparently, to lead all 

 movements ; and being absent in the canyon, perhaps for 

 the purpose of allaying his thirst, his charge did not know 

 what to do without him; but, like all sheep, when one 

 moved the remainder followed, without thinking of the 

 ceremony of waiting for the commands of the chief. If we 

 did not reap much profit from this bit of shooting, we en- 

 joyed a good share of quiet amusement; for it was quite 

 ludicrous to see the heavy-horned creatures give a startled 

 bound, then gaze stupidly about in search of the cause of 

 their annoyance. Having been more successful than the 

 most sanguine could have expected, we concluded to return 

 to camp with our spoils, as the hot August sun was becom- 

 ing disagreeably intense, and it was so late in the morning 



