IN THE FAR WEST. 351 



pines, where I expected to be within range ; but on reaching 

 that point I saw the object of my ambition quietly strolling 

 over a hillock, several hundred yards away. I felt severely 

 disappointed at this unexpected movement, but as I was still 

 anxious to procure the horns, I concluded to have them if I 

 tramped after him all day. Moving up the mountain once 

 more, and taking every advantage afforded by boulders, decli- 

 vities, and trees and where these were not to be found bend- 

 ing low to the ground I crawled along as if my back were 

 built on the right-angle principle, and my legs were intended 

 to make an obtuse angle from the knees downwards ; while 

 my forehead was a mass of wrinkles, and one eye was con- 

 stantly turned skyward, as if the quarry were up in that direc- 

 tion. After half an hour's tedious running and crawling, I 

 halted, and craned my neck slowly from behind a small crag, 

 to see if I could detect the ram. Yes, there he was, not two 

 hundred yards away, gazing proudly about him, and survey- 

 ing the noble landscape visible in every direction with a 

 critical eye, and in an attitude of vigilance. I crouched 

 behind my shelter when I saw his glances bent in my direc- 

 tion, but when he turned them away I lifted my head care- 

 fully and gradually above the rock, then pulled up my rifle 

 as slowly as if its movement through the air could be heard, 

 and taking deliberate aim at the body, I fired, and felt a great 

 sense of relief on hearing the detonation. When the smoke 

 cleared away I saw him bounding away to the north at a tre- 

 mendous rate, and evidently thoroughly scared, if not hurt. 

 T was almost sure I had hit him, but his pace seemed to give 

 a contradiction to my thoughts, and I felt anything but 

 pleased with myself. After gazing mechanically at his re- 

 treating form for a few moments, I saw him lie down on a 

 treeless plateau several hundred yards away, and I then 

 inferred that he was wounded. I therefore concluded to try 

 another stalk, and commenced that tedious operation once 

 more. By crawling carefully on my hands and knees, and 

 halting occasionally, I got within one hundred and fifty yards 

 of him, and seeing his horns peering above some rocks, I aimed 

 and fired at his head, or rather where I supposed it to be. 



