CHAPTER VI 



THE BIGHORN IN THE SNOW 



ONE winter morning an old mountain 

 sheep came down from the heights, 

 through the deep snow, and called at 

 my cabin. We had already spent a few years 

 trying to get acquainted. Most of these slow 

 advances had been made by myself, but this 

 morning he became a real neighbour, and when 

 I opened the door the Master of the Crags ap- 

 peared pleased to see me. Although many a 

 shy, big fellow among the wild folks had ac- 

 cepted me as a friend, I had not even hoped to 

 have a close enough meeting with a wild big- 

 horn ram to make an introduction necessary 

 for good form. 



I stood for a moment just outside the cabin 

 door. The situation was embarrassing for us 

 both; our advances were confusing, but I finally 

 brought about a meeting of actual contact with 

 bighorn. With slowness of movement I ad- 

 vanced to greet him, talking to him all the while 

 in low tones. Plainly his experiences assured 

 him that I was not dangerous, yet at the same 



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