Hunting American Big Game 



almost knocked him down, his cartridge 

 missed fire. 



Regaining my shoes, which was a great 

 relief, I soon joined my companion, and 

 then discovered the curious adventure I had 

 been made the subject of. It seems that 

 when I had reached a point well down on 

 the promontory I must have disturbed a 

 cougar, which was evidently there for the 

 same purpose I was, and which had stealth- 

 ily followed me as I proceeded toward the 

 sheep. Old Woody described it as highly 

 amusing I sneaking down after the rams, 

 and the panther sneaking down upon me. 

 As soon as the beast got an opportunity it 

 turned off, and, making the descent, 

 alarmed the rams, and thus spoiled my 

 hunt. 



For several days I watched this point, 

 but those rams never came back to it again. 

 However, not long after this I was amply 

 rewarded, and secured a fine specimen. 

 From one of the high ledges I was look- 

 ing down into a sort of amphitheatre shut 

 in by massive rocky heights. In this se- 

 cluded retreat a little band of ewes, with 

 one grand old patriarch as their master, 

 could be seen every day disporting them- 

 selves with many a curious gambol. After 

 many unsuccessful attempts I was enabled 



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