OF A RANCHMAN 



'35 



had been a favorite resort for the sharp- 

 tails for some time, and it was especially 

 likely that they would go to it during a storm, 

 as it afforded fine shelter, and also food. 

 The buttes bounding it on the side where the 

 trees were, rose to a sharp crest, which ex- 

 tended along with occasional interruptions 

 for over a mile, and by walking along near 



and occasionally looking out over it, 

 I judged I would get up close to the grouse, 

 while the falling snow and the wind would 

 deaden the report of the gun, and not let it 

 scare all the prairie fowl out of the canyon 

 at the first fire. It came out as I had planned 

 and expected. I clambered up to the crest 

 near the mouth of the gorge, braced myself 

 firmly, and looked over the top. At once a 

 dozen sharp-tails, who had perched in the 

 cedar tops almost at my feet, took wiii. 

 crossed over the canyon, and as they rose all 

 in a bunch to clear the opposite wall I fired 

 both barrels into the brown, and two of the 

 birds dropped down to the bottom of the 

 ravine. They fell on the snow-covered open 



