Krag, the Kootenay Ram 



with his harem about him. But in three days 

 of hard following they never got a second 

 glimpse; and the partner "reckoned thar was 

 easier money to git," and returned home. 



But back of Scotty's sinister gray eyes was 

 the fibre of dogged persistency that has made 

 his race the masters of the world. He returned 

 with Mitchell to the shanty, but only to prepare 

 for a long and obstinate hunt. His rifle, his 

 blanket, his pipe, with matches, tobacco, a pot, 

 a bundle of jerked venison, and three or four 

 pounds of chocolate were all he carried. He 

 returned alone next day to the place where he 

 had left the track of the Ram, and followed it 

 fast in the snow, winding about, in and out, and 

 obscured by those of his band, but always dis- 

 tinguishable by its size. Once or twice Scotty 

 came on the spots where the band had been 

 lying down, and from time to time he scanned 

 the distance with his glass. But he saw nothing 

 of them. At night he camped on their trail ; 

 next day he took it up again. After following 

 for hours, he came on the place where evidently 

 the Ram had stopped to watch him afar, and 

 so knew of his pursuer. Thenceforth the trail 



83 



