Hunthtg American Big Game 



resuming our toil (for that is really the 

 way to designate the ascent of these moun- 

 tains). 



We saw six fine rams (of course, now 

 that we did not want any) ; they did not 

 seem to regard us with any uneasiness, per- 

 mitting us to get within murderous dis- 

 tance, and I looked at their leader with 

 some longing. He had such a noble head 

 of curling, graceful, well-rounded horns. 

 He must have been a powerful adversary 

 when it came to butting. Stifling the in- 

 tent, I passed by without disturbing them, 

 and at last reached the top of the divide, 

 and was repaid by a glorious view. 



At that time Nature was not in her 

 most smiling garb. It had been steadily 

 growing colder; ominous clouds were gath- 

 ering in the west, and an ugly rolling of 

 thunder warned us that no genial spring- 

 day, with shirt-sleeve accompaniment, was 

 to gladden and cheer us. Still we must 

 look for bears ; so buttoning up our coats, 

 and turning up our collars, we surveyed 

 the country. At the same time it was 

 impossible to forego a study of the gran- 

 deur of the view displayed before us. 



Those who have seen the mountains 

 and foot-hills only in the fall of the year, 

 when every blade of grass is parched and 



29 



