X IN THE SHEEP COUNTRY 185 



anywhere within shot seemed beyond my powers of climbing, 

 as the ground was very- precipitous in places. There was, 

 however, a narrow strip of stunted alders running up a gully 

 towards the sheep, and hoping to be able to climb up by 

 clinging to these bushes, I started off, taking Simeon to carry 

 the rifle, and leaving Pitka below to watch if the sheep moved 

 his position. I shall long remember that climb, as it was 

 what the Americans call a "tough proposition." We soon 

 lost sight of the exact position of the ram, but at every halt 

 to get our wind we looked below at Pitka, who continued to 

 wave his hat as a sign to go higher. On reaching the end 

 of the stunted bushes we came on a very steep rock-slide, 

 and about 400 feet above us we could see the crag where 

 the ram had been standing, but no sign of the animal itself 

 was to be seen from our position. Hitherto we had been 

 hidden from view of this crag, but once on the bare rock- 

 slide it was another matter. So also was the climbing, and 

 after walking a few feet up it I had to go on my hands and 

 knees, being almost frightened out of my life at the way we 

 dislodged tons of small loose stones and rocks, which went 

 slipping down into the valley below in miniature avalanches. 

 At this juncture Pitka below us became wildly excited, 

 and waved his hat frantically. We guessed that the sheep 

 must have seen us, and telling Simeon to come quickly with 

 the rifle, I tried to get a firm spot on the slide to shoot from 

 if I could catch sight of the ram. A second afterwards the 

 ram dashed into sight as he crossed the head of the rock- 

 slide above us at about 120 yards' distance. For a second 

 he stood in full view looking at us. This was my only 

 chance. I could neither sit, stand, nor kneel, owing to the 

 ever-shifting ground around us. Exactly what position I 

 was in I never knew, but fired as best I could. The bullet 



