HUNTING RAMS 223 



chances, since not yet had I found a method of approach. 

 As I was proceeding, the dark ram suddenly appeared, 

 feeding upward beyond the saddle, head to the ground, 

 and my return to the crest was cut off unless attempted 

 in plain sight. I noticed, however, a way to stalk close 

 enough. Two hundred yards ahead, another ridge jut- 

 ting out at right angles extended far enough to bring me 

 opposite the rams if I could succeed in reaching it without 

 disturbing them. 



From the time the rams had first been seen, not once, 

 when I could see them, did one raise his head to look 

 a most exceptional thing. Lying flat on my stomach, I 

 had to risk working back to the crest, and, foot by foot, 

 all the time closely watching the ram, I wormed along 

 and at last, to my great relief, succeeded in reaching a 

 rock behind which I could keep out of sight until the crest 

 was gained. 



Then began the increasing excitement of the final 

 advance. Ahead, the buttressed cliffs lifted up to the 

 spired crest; on either side below were desolate, rock- 

 filled basins and deep canons from whose depths sounded 

 the subdued roar of the creeks; to my left, a rugged 

 mountain reached twenty miles to the valley of the Lapie, 

 and to my right continued a few miles to the smoother 

 ranges around the basin; while behind, filling the horizon, 

 were the Pelly ranges. All the colors were deepened under 

 the soft haze which the sunlight tinted blue, and which gave 

 to the mountain world a distant, mysterious grandeur. 



As I carefully walked ahead, the strong wind blowing 

 from behind caused much anxiety. Then the loud, shrill 



