Kragf, the Kootenay Ram 



and as they did so, up jumped a huge, gray, 

 white-sterned animal— the Ram, the wonderful 

 Gunder Ram. Over the low bushes, over 

 the broken rocks, bounding, soaring, floating, 

 supple, certain, splendid, he bore the great 

 curling wonders on his head as lightly as a lady 

 might her ear-rings; and then, from various 

 other coverts, sprang up his band and joined 

 him. Up flew the rifles; but in a moment 

 the three great Dogs, closing in, gave unwitting 

 screen to the one victim on which every thought 

 was fixed, and not a shot was heard. Away 

 they went, the Ram forging quickly to the lead, 

 and the others stringing along after. Over the 

 upland, flying, sailing, leaping, and swerving, 

 they went. Over the level plains the Dogs 

 would soon have caught the hindmost or per- 

 haps their noblest prey, but on the rugged rocks 

 it was clear that the Sheep were gaining. The 

 men ran, one to the right, the other to the left, 

 the better to keep sight ; and Krag, cut off from 

 the peak, dashed southward over the bench- 

 land. Now it was a straight race. On it went 

 — on, southward. The Dogs gained, and were 

 near catching the hindmost Sheep ; then it 



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