A GRAND OLD HAM. 315 



were a considerable distance from our camp. It was a 

 long and steep climb, and all the more difficult from our 

 having sometimes to scramble round, over awkward bits, in 

 order to keep out of view of the animals. 



At length we reached a point where some big rocks pro- 

 jected over the side of a wide gully, into which we knew 

 the burrell must have descended, though they were now 

 hidden from our sight. Puddoo, who had climbed on to 

 the rocks to reconnoitre, at once beckoned me to come up 

 beside him. On slowly raising my head to look over, I 

 beheld, within 150 yards, and almost on a level with us, a 

 big ram standing on an isolated crag above a deep drop. 

 What a beauty he looked as he stood there motionless as a 

 statue, gazing intently downward ! But I had little time 

 for admiring him, as his companions were moving on. 

 Owing to the ram's position, and the shape of the rocks 

 we were on, it so happened that shooting from the right 

 shoulder was difficult. I, however, managed to screw myself 

 round into an awkward attitude, and taking as steady an 

 aim as, under such circumstances, I was able, fired my shot. 

 The ram tottered for a second, and then fell headlong down 

 some 150 feet. The rest of the flock at once huddled 

 together and commenced retracing their steps slowly up- 

 wards, but after going a short distance they stood again 

 with all their heads turned towards us. Singling out the 

 other big fellow, I sent the contents of the second barrel 

 at him, and saw him, as I imagined, go tumbling down 

 after his companion. " Quick ! " whispered Puddoo, " now 

 take the other big one," as he handed me my spare rifle. 

 To my surprise, I now saw the big fellow I had just shot at 

 continuing his ascent with the rest of the flock. But, alas ! 

 I had missed my chance, as the other rifle was only a little 

 •360 bore, for an accurate shot with which the ram was 

 now too far out. The second bullet had gone just over the 

 big fellow's shoulder, and had brought down a ewe that had 



