Krag:, the Kootenay Ram 



winning cards in all walks of animal life, then 

 Krag must have been the idol of his band. For 

 matched with Rams he had seemed a wonder, 

 and among the Ewes his strength, his size, and 

 the curling horns must have made of him a 

 demigod, and the winged heart and the brim- 

 ming cup were his. 



But on the second day of joy two Rams ap- 

 peared, and after manoeuvring came near. One 

 was a fine big animal, as heavy in the body as 

 Krag, but with smaller horns, and the other 

 was _yes, it surely was— Krinklehorn. The 

 new Ram snuffed a challenge as he came near, 

 then struck the ground with his foot, meaning, 

 " I am a better Ram than you, and mean to oust 

 you from your present happy position." 



Krag's eyes blazed. He curled his massive 

 neck. He threw his chin up and down like a 

 champing horse, shook his great horns as 

 though they were yet mere points, laid back his 

 ears, and charged ; and forward sprang the foe. 

 Chock! they came together; but the stranger 

 had an advantage of ground, which left the first 

 onset a draw. 



The Rams backed off, each measuring the 



63 



