The Mountain Sheep 207 



cooler than I was one year, and why the next, 

 with these rams, I seem to have been a useless 

 imbecile. The unexpected apparition of so many 

 animals does not account for it, because when I 

 raised myself to look over the ridge before my 

 first shot that brought them into sight, I was 

 shaking thoroughly. 



These proceedings did not, at any rate, impair 

 appetite. With the flavor of elk, deer, antelope, 

 bear, and even porcupine, we were familiar; but 

 wild mutton was still a great novelty, and we 

 found it the most palatable of all. I say "we 

 found it " and not " it was," because I have found 

 a lump of dough sponged round a tin plate full 

 of bacon grease so very delicious ! The romance 

 of wild game so mixes with its taste that we 

 carve a venison steak with unction and respect. 

 Yet I have come almost to think that our good 

 old friend roast beef is more savory than any- 

 thing we can find in the woods. If it is merely 

 the pleasure of the table that you seek, take a 

 good walk every day in the park, or even just 

 up and down town, and the meats from your 

 kitchen (if your lot is blest with a kitchen) will 

 be superior to all the meats of camp. 



I become, as I look back, surer than ever that 



