356 SPORTING ADVENTURES 



nerves, the fusillade brought us only one yearling 1 , which 

 seemed too dazed to break away with the others. 



We followed the retreating flock up the steep mountain side, 

 but found in a short time that the old proverb of a stern chase 

 being- a long- one was especially true in this case, so we relin- 

 quished it in about half an hour. Knowing- that two sheep 

 were severely wounded by the manner in which they acted, and 

 having- failed to discover them among those that escaped, we 

 deployed and commenced searching 1 in every direction for some 

 trails of blood. It being- a characteristic of this species to head 

 for the mountains under all possible circumstances, we moved 

 toward the summit, but after working- for an hour we could find 

 no trace of them. We then returned to our slain quarries, and 

 cutting- them open made a cache in a small, fir-tree and placed 

 them upon it, to prevent their being- unceremoniously appro- 

 priated by some prowling- boar or coug-ar. This important 

 duty finished, we resumed our exploration for the wounded 

 animals, and in less than a minute came upon a trail that 

 plainly indicated the severity of their injuries, as the blood 

 formed a miniature stream in some places. 



Following- that for half a mile, we came to a deep, broad chasm, 

 and down this we clambered, or rather stumbled, for we were 

 sliding- more frequently than walking-. Reaching- the bottom, 

 we found that one of the sheep had followed its course upward 

 and the other down, so a party went in each direction. I was 

 with the latter, and was fortunate enough to get a shot at a 

 cougar that was quietly preparing- to make a meal off one of the 

 wounded animals, which it had captured and slain. I don't 

 know whether I hit it or not, but I am thoroughly sure I scared 

 it a little, from the way in which it dashed through the canyon. 

 It certainly acted as if it had forgotten something lower down, 

 and was in the greatest possible hurry to get it. The sheep 

 on which it was preparing to feast was little injured, it having 

 had only time to cut the throat before it had orders to leave. 

 Making a litter of two fallen boughs, we placed the slain 

 creature upon it, and in this way managed to get it to the 

 upper world. The other party were unsuccessful in their 

 search, but as we could claim one animal for each member of 



