Kragf, the Kootenay Ram 



another hurried, by the White Wind sent, to 

 block a stream and turn its wasted waters to a 

 thirsty land —a messenger of mercy. But down 

 the Gunder Peak there whirled a monstrous 

 mass, charged with a mission of revenge. 

 Down, down, down, loud snoofing as it went, 

 and sliding on from shoulder, ledge, and long 

 incline, now wiping out a forest that would 

 bar its path, then crashing, leaping, rolling, 

 smashing over cliff and steep descent, still 

 gaining as it sped. Down, down, faster, fiercer, 

 in one fell and fearful rush, and Scotty's shanty, 

 in its track, with all that it contained, was 

 crushed and swiftly blotted out. The hunter 

 had forefelt his doom. The Ram's own Mother 

 White Wind, from the western sea, had come— 

 had long delayed, but still had come at last. 



"VER the rocky upland dawned the 

 \ . spring, over the level plain of Tobacco 

 Creek. Gently the rains from the 

 westward washed the great white pile 

 of the snow-slide. Slowly the broken shanty 

 came to light ; and there in the middle, quite 

 unharmed, was the head of the Gunder Ram. 



103 



