IN THE FAR WEST. 349 



about two bund red yards we came upon spots of blood, and tin's 

 brought us the joyous assurance that one at least was wounded. 



Following up this trail until it led to a large piece of 

 shelving formed of loose stones, which overhung a deep 

 but very narrow chasm, I commenced scouting over it, 

 while my companion worked to the right among some young 

 firs and large crags that skirted a ravine. I lost it sud- 

 denly, however, and though I quartered in every direction 

 I could find no trace of it. Returning to where I first 

 lost it, I saw that some of the small stones were over- 

 turned very recently, evidently by the stamping of an 

 animal in pain, and this caused me to look at their under 

 side, and that I found freely sprinkled with blood. Turning 

 up those that were disarranged, I followed their course for a few 

 feet until I came to a small wall or terrace, which was scarcely 

 two feet high, and ran along the outer end of the shelf. 



Not daring to advance to that treacherous foothold, I gave a 

 lusty shout to arouse any game that might be concealed there, 

 and the mountains had scarcely taken up the echo before a splen- 

 did ram bounded from the shelter of the wall and attempted 

 to leap the chasm ; but I was ready for him that time, and he 

 had scarcely risen in the air before a ball went crashing 

 through his sides, and sent him headlong into the canyon ; 

 but, very fortunately, instead of being dashed to pieces on the 

 rocks below, he fell into a fir that grew on a most convenient 

 ledge, whence I was able to drag him to a more eligible 

 locality, where I could gloat over him in comfort. My com- 

 panion joined me half an hour later, he also having succeeded 

 in killing one by coming suddenly upon several that were 

 grazing amongst huge boulders ; and, much to my satisfac- 

 tion, as 1 wished to secure the heads of both sexes, I heard 

 it was a female about two years old. By cutting two stout 

 branches olf a pine-tree, we made a litter, and placing the 

 ram upon it, carried him to where the ewe was concealed. 

 Both were then despoiled of the viscera, and a long pole was 

 placed under their hind-legs, which were tied, and they were 

 pushed high up against a tree, to prevent them from being 

 devoured by any prowling quadrupeds. 



