Krag, the Kootenay Ram 



XIX 



"No! Money couldn't buy it " ; and Scotty 

 turned sullenly away to end discussion. He 

 waited a time till the taxidermist had done his 

 best, then he retraversed three hundred miles 

 of mountain to his lonely home. He removed 

 the cover, and hung the head where it got the 

 best light. The work was well done : the horns 

 were unchanged; the wonderful golden eyes 

 were there, and when a glint of light gave to 

 them a semblance of regard, the mountaineer 

 felt once more some of the feelings of that day 

 on the ridge. He covered up the head again. 



Those who knew him best say he kept it 

 covered and never spoke about it. But one 

 man said : " Yes ; I saw him uncover it once, 

 and look kind o' queer." The only remark he 

 ever made about it was : " Them's my horns, 

 but he'll get even with me yet." 



Four years went by. Scotty, now known as 

 Old Man Scotty, had never hunted since. He 

 had broken himself down in that long madness. 

 He lived now entirely by his gold-pan, was 

 quite alone, and was believed to have something 



99 



