THREE HARDY MOUNTAINEERS 245 



moderately, but when they wish to go down a steep 

 place, they set their feet and coast, for the shock of 

 jumping so far would kill them, even if their bones 

 were not all broken. 



" So hardy is the Bighorn and family that the lambs 

 born in the early spring go slipping over the ice after 

 their parents as soon as their legs can bear them, never 

 dreaming of feeling cold." 



" If they are hardy and live so far away, I shouldn't 

 think there would be any danger of their dying out," 

 said Rap. 



" You would not think so, and yet they yield such 

 delicious mutton that they are persecuted by all the 

 flesh-eating animals who are able to take them, in addi- 

 tion to man. 



"The Mountain Goat, on the contrary, is said, b}^ 

 those who know, to be holding his own better. His 

 flesh is tough and strong-flavored, and his heavy coat 

 of thick under-fur and rough white hair, that makes 

 him look as clumsy as a miniature Bison, is of little 

 value as a pelt. The Indians, who used to make robes 

 of it, prefer the woven blankets obtained at the trading 

 stations, and so leave him comparatively alone in his 

 dizzy pastures." 



"The Goat doesn't look as if he would be a good 

 climber," said Rap, studying the picture. " He is 

 short-legged and clumsy and has a humpy neck like 

 a Bison, and his head pokes so far forward that I 

 shouldn't think he could see behind him. He looks 

 as if he would like a nice, comfortable pasture like farm 

 ■ cattle! " 



" His looks belie him, sure enough! He is a foot less 



