Krag, the Kootenay Ram 



sane pursuit, and the head and shoulders of the 

 Ram were grizzling ; only his jewel eyes and his 

 splendid sweeping horns were the same, and 

 borne as proudly as when first the chase began. 



Each morning the man would rise, — stiff, half 

 frozen, and gaunt, but dogged as a very Hound 

 infernal,— and sneak along, trying for a close 

 shot. But always Krag was warned in time, 

 and springing into view from his own couch, 

 would lead the chase as before. Till in the 

 third month they crossed again from Galtom to 

 Tobacco Range, then eastward back to Gunder 

 Peak— the Ram, and the sleuth inexorable upon 

 his trail behind him. Here, on the birthplace of 

 the Ram, they sat one morning, at rest— the Ram 

 on one ridge, Scotty six hundred yards away 

 on the next. For twelve long weeks the Ram 

 had led him through the snow, over ten long 

 mountain-ranges— five hundred rugged miles. 



And now they were back to their starting- 

 point, each with his lifetime wasted by one half 

 in that brief span. Scotty sat down, and lit 

 his pipe. The Ram made haste to graze. 

 As long as the man stayed there in view the 

 Ram would keep that ridge. Scotty knew 



93 



