236 THE WILDERNESS OF THE UPPER YUKON 



Circling to the right, I saw three small rams lying 

 above the snow, two of them facing me, the other looking 

 toward the north-west. The rams on the peak above had 

 risen and were looking at me. I felt sure there were rams 

 below, and began to descend toward the gorge. After 

 I had gone a short distance, a large band of rams, feeding 

 just above the edge of the gorge, suddenly came into 

 view. Instantly I withdrew from sight, since it was im- 

 possible to approach them from the mountain I was on. 

 Retreating upward around the slope, I descended to the 

 top of the connecting ridge, observing everywhere numer- 

 ous fresh sheep tracks indicating that this band of rams 

 had been occupying the areas about this basin for a long 

 time. It was after five when I began to advance directly 

 toward the gorge, hoping to come near enough for a good 

 shot before the rams below would come in sight. Having 

 studied the ground, I knew that a successful approach 

 was doubtful, and I had been obliged to take the one 

 possible way to advance along the rolling slopes in plain 

 sight of the three rams above the snow. The rams on 

 the summit were already standing and watching me. 



Keeping my eyes on the lower rams and stooping low, 

 I slowly advanced, but they soon saw me and at once 

 rose and stood looking at me. As I progressed, they 

 remained motionless and I could almost feel their pene- 

 trating gaze. When the band below was not more than 

 three or four hundred yards distant, I came to a swell 

 in the ground and knew that from the top of it I could 

 see them. But I could not get nearer. The slope on 

 the other side fell almost vertically to the gorge. Creep- 



