62 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



point several ewes and lambs were seen near the peak of 

 the mountain on my left. They had evidently been feed- 

 ing below and were working upward to rest for the 

 night. 



July 27. The next day was spent in camp. It was 

 the hottest yet experienced and decidedly uncomfortable. 

 With the exceptions noted, the weather had been clear; 

 the days, except high up the mountains, warm, often 

 hot; and the nights cold, the temperature usually falling 

 below freezing point. Numerous jays were now about, 

 and it was amusing to watch them carrying off every 

 piece of meat that they could snatch. I prepared the 

 head of the ram which Rungius had been sketching, and 

 skinned my caribou's feet. Osgood had very kindly pre- 

 pared the caribou head during my absence. 



At 6.30 in the evening Rungius and I rilled our ruck- 

 sacks with provisions, and, taking the mosquito tent, 

 started for my camp at the lower end of the divide. As 

 we were ascending the pastures of the divide, Rungius 

 looked back and saw a fairly large ram, high up the 

 mountain, running down the slope, followed by a smaller 

 one. He immediately started back to gain the foot of 

 the slope, but the sheep passed out of sight, running as if 

 frightened. He began to climb directly toward the point 

 where they disappeared. Then I started down the creek, 

 to intercept them if they should cross to the other range, 

 but it was too late, for I saw them climbing the slope on 

 the opposite side, and watched them for some time until 

 they began to feed near the top and soon passed out of 

 sight over the crest. 



