THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT. 351 



the interests of science, and were not killing as do the 

 Indians, who hunt merely to satisfy their hungry stomachs. 

 But Charley took it all good-naturedly; and when the old 

 fellow^' s back was turned, he held up two of his fingers, to 

 show that he had killed two Goats, while the mighty 

 hunter had bagged only one. 



Our descent of the mountains, to where we had left the 

 canoe, was not at all difficult, as the hard snow along the 

 border of the creek allow^ed us to drag our specimens with- 

 out injury to the skins. 



The next day's sport, though of a somewhat exciting 

 character, did not redound much to my fame as a Goat- 

 hunter. The ascent of the mountain had been difficult, and 

 in many places dangerous, and more than once the assist- 

 ance of my trusty guides had to make up for my lack of 

 iron nerve. Creeping along the face of a cliff, with a thou- 

 sand feet between you and the first halting-place should 

 you happen to miss your footing, is a feat which few ama- 

 teurs in mountain travel may accomplish with ease. Muscle 

 and endurance are valuable adjuncts to the composition of 

 a sportsman, but in hunting the Mountain Goat, muscle 

 and endurance will avail him nothing if he be lacking in 

 that most necessary of all qualifications, a stead}^ head; and 

 the enthusiastic hunter, urged on by the excitement of the 

 chase, with the game keeping just beyond the reach of his 

 rifle, may find himself at a point where to go on is impos- 

 sible, and to return requires the nerve and coolness of a 

 Blondin. 



We at length reached a shelf, from which, to gain the 

 top, the old hunter had to mount on the shoulders of his 

 brother; after which he lowered the butt of his musket 

 for Charley to cling to, and, with my assistance, he also 

 ascended. The old fellow then formed a loop on one end of 

 his belt, and fastening the other to the butt of his musket, 

 passed it down for my assistance. I, however, began to 

 look at the thing from a purely scientific point of view. I 

 had much to learn concerning the habits of the Mountain 

 Goat; in fact, I had only just commenced the task. Now, 



