SHEEP AND GOATS 245 



got to the top, raised them gradually over it before 

 we ventured to look over through this improvised 

 covert. How often have I wished, when stalking, 

 that my eyes were quite on the top of my head ! 

 When I looked over I was indeed glad ; seven fine 

 sheep, all old rams, were there moving about picking 

 at tufts of grass. They did look big, as indeed 

 they are 12 hands high. The drawback was that 

 they were out of shot in a great open corrie, and 

 quite in the middle of it too. If they would only 

 come my way ! But this was too much to expect ; 

 ten times out of a dozen they will not do it. 



We lay and watched, and they gradually drew off 

 to the opposite slope. Here the grass seemed to give 

 out, so the leader started off towards the ridge much 

 too slowly to please me. One after another followed, 

 stopping every now and again, when one would turn 

 on another and challenge him, then the two would 

 stand straight up on their hind legs, then down with 

 their heads, and bring their horns together with a 

 bang that could be heard a mile off. At last they 

 were out of sight, and away we went as hard as we 

 could to try to catch them before they were out of 

 shot from the ridge. Alas ! when we looked over 

 they were just as far off as before, which was natural, 

 as the best of the grass was in the middle of the 

 corrie. Patience again ; but, oh horror ! one after 

 another they lay down. What was to be done ? 

 They probably would lie until mid-day, at which 

 time, in the spring, when they have to make up flesh 

 for winter starvation, the sheep generally eat rather 



