At St. Mary's 



to the right. Slowly his head was raised 

 until the eyes looked over the ridge. 

 Slowly the head was lowered again, and 

 slowly did the body wriggle back to the 

 side of its companion. Turning his head, 

 the other caught the look in his eyes, 

 and his lips formed the unspoken words, 

 " How many ? " Eight raised fingers gave 

 definite reply. 



Together they now made their way up- 

 ward, and in a moment were lying prone 

 just below the line of the ridge, their eyes 

 drinking in the sight of a bunch of eight 

 Rocky Mountain sheep not a hundred 

 yards distant, quietly licking the outcrop- 

 ping salt from the earth. 



" Well, we've got them," whispered 

 Hardeman, as he quietly took from his 

 belt a half-dozen cartridges, and spread 

 them out for quick use on the ground by 

 his side. 



" We have," I nodded, adjusting the 

 sight of my carbine for a " half-point " 

 windage to the left. 



Two gleaming barrels were slowly 

 thrust over the edge, and all was silent. 

 One, two, three seconds — then two re- 

 ports that sounded as one. 



Six animals fleeing in six different di- 

 rections. Three more reports in quick 



297 



