SHEEP-HUNTING 185 



and it was a mere accident, for we ran across the 

 sheep by chance. Plunk belonged to Mr. Evans, 

 who at that time owned the ranch-house. He was 

 the best dog for that kind of work I ever saw or 

 heard of, for if he once " treed " a sheep he would 

 hold him there for days. He got into many scrapes, 

 poor beast ; he was so eager, he would follow sheep 

 anywhere, and on one or two occasions got into 

 positions from which he could not have extricated 

 himself without human aid. And in that way he 

 met his fate. He got after a band of sheep one 

 day, and followed them away off out of sight and 

 out of hearing. No distant note of baying came 

 to the anxious ear of his master, who searched all 

 that day for him fruitlessly till nightfall, and all the 

 next day and many days equally in vain. Poor 

 Plunk was never seen or heard of again. He must 

 either have fallen over some cliff, or have jumped 

 down upon some ledge from which he could not 

 descend or ascend again, and there perished slowly 

 and miserably of starvation. 



The mountain sheep is a magnificent animal, and 

 the ram carries a splendid head. He is wild-looking 

 and picturesque, and exactly suits the character of 

 the country in which he is found. I know nothing 

 finer in nature than the massive form of a big old 



