THE BIG-HORN, OR MOUNTAIN SHEEP. 407 



follow the fugitives, we turned our attention to preparing 

 our captures for transportation homeward. 



It seems to be a characteristic of the big-horns that 

 when they are first startled they rush together and remain 

 bunched up for a short time previous to their flight, as if 

 they were dazed ; and that is the best time to shoot at 

 them, as one shot then is worth half a dozen when they are 

 fleeing. While moving down the mountain we espied a 

 sturdy ram stalking about, as if he were monarch of all he 

 surveyed ; and his stately mien and vigorous action caused 

 me to long so much for his horns that I resolved to capt- 

 ure him if possible. Leaving my companion with the 

 " drag " of mutton, I crawled carefully toward a clump of 

 pines, where I expected to be within range; but, on reach- 

 ing that point, I saw the object of my ambition quietly 

 strolling over a hillock several hundred yards away. I felt 

 severely disappointed at this unexpected movement; but 

 as I was still anxious to procure the horns, I concluded to 

 have them, if I tramped after him all day. Moving up the 

 mountain once more, and taking every advantage afforded 

 by bowlders, declivities, and trees — and where these were 

 not to be found bending low to the ground — I crawled 

 along as if my back were built on the right-angle principle, 

 and my legs were intended to make an obtuse angle from 

 the knees downward; while my forehead was a mass of 

 wrinkles; and one eye was constantly turned skyward, as if 

 the quarry were up in that direction. 



AfUr half an hour's tedious running and crawling, I 

 halted, and craned my neck slowly from behind a small 

 crag to see if I could detect the ram. Yes, there he was, 

 not two hundred yards away, gazing proudly about him, 

 and surveying the noble landscape, visible in every direc- 

 tion, with a critical eye, and in an attitude of vigilance. I 

 crouched behind my shelter when I saw his glances bent in 

 my direction; but when he turned them away I lifted my 

 head carefully and gradually above the rock, then pulled 

 up my rifle as slowly as if its movement through the air 

 could be heard, and, taking deliberate aim at the body, I 



