Kragf, the Kootenay Ram 



loss of appetite, she rose to the occasion. She 

 led the whole band to a lower level, down 

 among the timber, and lower still. Where was 

 she going? The road was new to most of them. 

 The Spikerdoe was full of distrust ; she stopped 

 again and again ; she did not like these sinister 

 lower levels. But the leader went calmly on. 

 If any of the band had been disposed to stop 

 and go back with her, the Spikerdoe would cer- 

 tainly have made a split. But all went listlessly 

 after the Wise One, whose calm decision really 

 inspired confidence. When far below the safety- 

 line, the leader began to prick up her ears and 

 gaze forward. Those near her also brightened 

 up. They were neither hungry nor thirsty, but 

 their stomachs craved something which they felt 

 was near at last. A wide slope ahead appeared, 

 and down it a white streak. Up to the head of 

 this streak the Wise One led her band. They 

 needed no telling ; the bank and all about was 

 white with something that the Sheep eagerly 

 licked up. Oh, it was the most delicious thing 

 they had ever tasted! It seemed they could 

 not get enough ; and as they licked and licked, 

 the dryness left their throats, the hotness went 



40 



