ON THE PRAIRIE 101 



stantly up the steep side, digging my hands 

 and feet into the loose snow, and grasping 

 at every little rock or frozen projection, I 

 reached the top; and then ran forward 

 along the ridge a few paces, crouching be- 

 hind the masses of queerly-shaped sandstone ; 

 and saw, about ninety yards off across the 

 ravine, a couple of mountain rams. The one 

 with the largest horns was broadside to- 

 ward me, his sturdy, massive form outlined 

 clearly against the sky, as he stood on the 

 crest of the ridge. I dropped on my knee, 

 raising the rifle as I did so ; for a second he 

 did not quite make me out, turning his head 

 half round to look. I held the sight fairly 

 on the point just behind his shoulder and 

 pulled the trigger. At the report he stag- 

 gered and pitched forward, but recovered 

 himself and crossed over the ridge out of 

 sight. We jumped and slid down into the 

 ravine again, and clambered up the opposite 

 side as fast as our lungs and the slippery ice 

 would let us; then taking the trail of the 

 wounded ram we trotted along it. We had 



