160 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



more ewes and lambs feeding on the grass slope just above 

 the timber. Pure white in body, most of them had black 

 tails, though the tails of others were practically white. 

 To be sure of securing meat as well as a specimen of the 

 sheep of the district, I decided to shoot one now that 

 the chance offered and at once planned an approach 

 downward through a canon which would lead me near 

 and opposite to where they were feeding. 



It was a difficult descent, and when nearly opposite 

 the point I climbed the side of the canon and peeped 

 over. Surprised to find that the sheep were not in sight, 

 I concluded that, having entered another canon farther 

 over on the slope, they were moving up; consequently I 

 started diagonally upward on the loose, broken rock, 

 hoping to intercept them from above. Suddenly I heard 

 the sound of a big rock falling from high on the 

 mountain opposite me, and, looking back, I saw Schnabel 

 sitting among the loose rocks and signalling to me that 

 the sheep were farther along the slope and higher up. 

 I realized immediately that they had seen him and were 

 off to climb the mountain. Notwithstanding my keen dis- 

 appointment, I kept on climbing higher, but the sound of 

 rocks and small boulders falling behind, caused me to 

 wait until Schnabel, who was scrambling along, joined 

 me. 



The sheep were then badly frightened, and as he 

 came up I saw them running four hundred yards distant 

 high on the mountain, entering among some cliffs on the 

 other side of the canon. It was our only chance, and we 

 both shot as they ran. He rushed ahead and kept firing 



