THE BIQ-HORN, OR MOUNTAIN SHEER 415 



that we could scarcely hope to meet any more sheep until 

 the cool breeze of the evening appeared. 



On reaching our caches, we made a drag of the heaviest 

 fir and pine boughs Ave could break off by our united 

 weight, and, placing the game on this, we hauled it down 

 the mountain without any very laborious efforts. 



Arrived at camp, those unused to the heavy climbing of 

 the day were soon so stiff as to be scarcely able to move; 

 but the rugged miners seemed to consider it a mere noth- 

 ing, and laughed heartily at the " drawing-room hunters." 

 The success of the expedition had been so great, however, 

 that they condescended to say that the "drawing-room 

 hunters " were not bad shots. I have been out among big- 

 horns frequently since then, but never did I see such good- 

 luck attend a large party the first day. 



That evening, while discussing the merits of wild-mutton 

 cutlets and the contents of a couple of bottles of " Chateau 

 Lafitte," the principal guide related an adventure which be- 

 fell him on the first occasion that he had hunted big-horns 

 on the scene of our morning's exploits. He and a compan- 

 ion, who were " chums," in prospecting for gold, being out 

 of meat, concluded to kill some mountain sheep, not having 

 any other means of procuring it, as there were no settlers 

 in that section of the country at the time except a few min- 

 ers. The Indians, who had been very troublesome in other 

 quarters of the territory, had let them alone, and from this 

 they supposed that there were none anywhere near them. 

 In an hour after starting they came upon a flock of big- 

 horns, and killed two fine ewes ; and while engaged in pre- 

 paring them, another flock suddenly appeared on the op- 

 posite side of a chasm near which they were standing, and 

 were preparing to cross it, when they were arrested by the 

 foe in front. As they stood still for a few moments, the 

 hunters threw themselves on the ground and fired; but 

 simultaneously with the reports of their own rifles came 

 others directly behind them, and several bullets passed over 

 their heads. Alarmed by this unexpected fusillade, they 

 jumped to their feet and leaped behind a crag just in time 



