SPLENDID SHOT. 35 



Nevertheless, I unslung my gun, and, cocking it, 

 placed it across my saddle-bow. At the time we 

 were rounding the base of an almost perpendicular 

 cliff. In a few moments the entrance to a ravine 

 of sixty or more yards in width was disclosed, and 

 from its bottom, disturbed by my presence, a brace 

 of Big-horns rushed to ascend the only practicable 

 path that appeared upon its sides. This brought the 

 animals closer to me. The range was not over a 

 hundred and fifty feet. The old nag comprehended 

 the situation and halted. The position she selected 

 was admirable for my purpose, and I cut down the 

 larger animal in splendid style. 



Who does not feel gratified when he is conscious 

 of having made a very clever shot ? But my satis- 

 faction was not unalloyed with sorrow, for the 

 carcass was lean and unfit for food, and the splendid 

 head and horns were a load too great to think of 

 carrying with me, that they might at some future 

 time become an ornament to my dwelling. So all had 

 to be left a prey to ravens and vultures, or, worse 

 still, to putrefy, and serve no other purpose than 

 that of manure to the uncultivated soil. 



At sunset, when I had been in camp more than 

 an hour, it commenced to rain a Scotch mist it 

 might have been called ; but whatever appellation 

 was most applicable, it inflicted on the unsheltered 

 a most perfect ducking. Half the night I submitted 

 without murmur to my fate, but when constantly 

 replenished puddles had formed under each promi- 



