SEARCHING FOR SHEEP 119 



Selous went to make a reconnoissance of the ridges 

 opposite the north end of the meadows, while I again took 

 to the sheep-trail, intending to go over to the big mountain 

 where I had seen sheep two days before. Three well- 

 defined sheep-trails crossed the meadows and passed up 

 through the timber on both sides of the draw. In the 

 timber and for a considerable distance above, was a 

 dense growth of dwarf birch mixed with willow and 

 alder. The fact that these trails, seldom used by the 

 sheep, were so well beaten that all the underbrush had 

 been carefully cleaned from them, is evidence of their 

 having been trodden for numerous generations. The 

 dense growth of underbrush made walking through the 

 timber most difficult and tiresome when off the sheep- 

 trails. 



Passing north along the ridge and ascending the next 

 mountain, I saw on top of a high ridge to the north-west 

 two small lakes surrounded by narrow meadows, which 

 from my position seemed almost suspended in the air. 

 Through my field-glasses, a cow moose followed by two 

 calves was seen feeding on the shore. I watched them 

 for awhile as they browsed on the willows, when sud- 

 denly a mist was blown on the mountains, rain began to 

 fall, and it became so dark that I could see only a few 

 feet below. The weather had again thwarted me, so 

 turning back in mist, rain, and snow, I descended through 

 the woods in the dark, fighting every step against the 

 thick growth of spruce and underbrush, until camp was 

 finally reached. Selous had seen a band of nine ewes on 

 the mountain which I had approached, but not wishing 



