io6 WAITING IN THE WILDERNESS 



sheep often looked down while sunning them- 

 selves. A single old sheep had evidently re- 

 ceived a message of the lion's approach and had 

 leaped over and gone down the slope. 



The lion had then climbed up a moderately 

 steep trail toward the summit. After about a 

 mile he met, or nearly met, another lion coming 

 down. This was on a smooth, treeless ridge. 

 Each appeared to have purposely kept a trifle 

 to the right of the wild-life trail, about fifty 

 feet apart. 



When opposite each other they had turned and 

 faced, advanced a few steps, and sat down. The 

 one coming down the slope appears to have 

 started on first, for the one I was following had 

 turned as though to look after him. This may or 

 may not have been normal lion etiquette. 



On a wind-swept place the tracks vanished. 

 Half a mile farther I found them. What the 

 lion had done in the interval is blank. But 

 on the way up the slope time after time he came 

 up behind a rock pile on the ridge. Around the 

 right side of one he peered before showing him- 

 self, then on to the next rock pile; always first 

 having a look before showing himself, whether he 

 went to the right or left or over the top. 



Near the summit a flock of mountain sheep 

 had moved off to the left and then turned to 

 watch him pass. United and with solid footing 



