A GREAT DAY WITH GOATS 79 



The bloomin' little thing can't make steam fast 

 enough! " 



I was like that engine. I couldn't " keep steam " ; 

 and whenever my lungs became a perfect vacuum, I had 

 to stop and rest, and collect air. Considering the fact 

 that there was game above us, I thought my comrades 

 were very considerate in permitting me to set the pace. 

 Now had some one glared at me with the look of a 

 hungry cannibal, and hissed between his teeth, " Step 

 lively! " it would have made me feel quite at home. 



In due time we left the green timber behind us, and 

 started up the last quarter of the climb. There we found 

 stunted spruces growing like scraggy brush, three feet 

 high, gnarled and twisted by the elements, and enfeebled 

 by the stony soil on which they bravely tried to grow. 

 Only the bravest of trees could even rear their heads on 

 that appalling steep, scorched by the sun, rasped by the 

 wind, drenched by the rains and frozen by the snow. 

 But after a hundred yards or so, even the dwarf spruces 

 gave up the struggle. Beyond them, up to our chosen 

 point, the mountain-roof was smooth and bare, except 

 for a sprinkle of fine, flat slide-rock that was very treach- 

 erous stuff to climb over. 



" Let me take your rifle, Director!" said Charlie, 

 kindly. 



" No, thank you. I'll carry it up, or stay down. But 

 you may keep behind me if you will, and catch me if I 

 start to roll ! " 



On steep slopes, such as that was, my companions had 

 solemnly warned me not to fall backward and start roll- 



