THE BIG-HORN 215 



Even when the big-horn were most plentiful, the 

 sportsman who desired to shoot them was obliged to 

 climb high and make an arduous journey similar to 

 that made by those who went after the white goats- 

 It required two or three days at least from most of 

 our camps in the mountain valleys to make the trip to 

 the haunts of the sheep, and, since elk and blacktail or 

 mifle-deer were abundant and very easy to get, but 

 few of our company went after the big-horn. It was 

 absolutely necessary to travel light, with a few pack 

 animals, and these often proved a nuisance. 



The game trails we travelled were often rough and 

 strewn with rocks and fallen trees, which an elk, deer 

 or sheep could bound over easily ; but not so our mules 

 with their heavy packs on their backs. These often 

 became entangled in- the branches and there were many 

 long delays before \he march was resumed. 



I saw some magnincent heads, procured, unfortu- 

 nately, by other rifles, and thoroughly enjoyed the 

 scenery and the mutton, which was, as it always is 

 represented, excellent. 



The big-horn is gifted with fine eyesight. He hears 

 well and has a wonderful nose. The walking in many 

 places is most difficult. Loose, broken stones are lit- 

 tered everywhere about, and the slight rattle of any 

 one of them will put a distant big-horn to flight, and 

 when he flies he goes most often at a wonderful pace, 

 along up over some dizzy height or down into some 

 deep ravine or canyon and up the other side, and is 

 soon so far away that it would take another day to 

 follow him. For those who like anything arduous or 

 most difficult, I can recommend the chase of the big- 



