3 6 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



soon solved the problem, for they were surely working 

 up toward the crest and a little in my direction. 



Then they began to ascend faster and did not pause 

 so much to feed. Some would suddenly run a short dis- 

 tance, jump to a stand-still, and look. But I was well 

 concealed and they did not see me. There was little 

 wind and it was in my favor. Before I realized it, they 

 had reached the top, five hundred yards away. All stood 

 on the edge looking at the country below. 



Only those who have been high up above the valleys 

 and woods, among the peaks and crags, and there have 

 seen the mountain ram in his element, can appreciate 

 the sight or realize the emotion surging through me as I 

 beheld them. They stood like marble silhouettes, erect, 

 rigid, on the sky-line of that wonderful landscape the 

 essence of boldness, grace, energy, self-confidence, wild- 

 ness! For five minutes they were motionless, sweeping 

 the country below with their keen eyes. Unless hidden 

 from sight I do not believe any moving object could have 

 escaped them. 



Then one jumped below the rim; the rest quickly 

 followed ; there was a slight sound of falling rocks. They 

 had disappeared like phantoms. Not then experienced 

 in the habits of the northern sheep, I thought that my 

 chance had come. They might come back, but it seemed 

 more likely that they were seeking a spot to rest on the 

 other slope, and shortly would reach some point in a 

 place too rough for a stalk. After waiting a few moments, 

 I started upward toward the head of the canon and had 

 gone a hundred yards, when two small rams suddenly 



