FOREST AND STHEAM. 
283 
had no time to reflect on danger past or danger ahead. 
At once T climbed up the steep rocks, and to my intense 
yoy I began to see large footprints of sheep on every 
li-and and noticed particularly the size of them. When I 
reached the summit I saw, about half a mile distant, on a 
projecting ledge, three large sheep. I dropped to my 
knees, and as the wind was in my favor, crawled within 
^sOoyds of the game, I examined them carefully witli 
the field glass and noticed that one of them was a mon- 
arch of the mountains. I raised my rifle very carefully 
and took deliberate aim. Sping, went the little Savage, 
and the great monster fell where he stood. The others 
at one bound .were otit of sight, and I was glad they 
were, as I had all I could attend to, 
I worked for about two hours getting the hide and 
head carefullj^ taken oflf, and when I got through it was 
almost night. A thick fog began to settle all over the 
mountain. I knew it was useless to try and return to 
camp that night, and so began at once to look for a shel- 
tered spot, as the wind began to blow from the north- 
west, and with it came a cold, drizzling rain. My feet 
were already wet from walking over the glacier, and as 
I had no coat with me my buckskin shirt soon got wet 
through and the ground was very damp and cold. You 
probably ask why I did not make a fire. There was 
neither wood nor brush within twenty miles, and hardly 
a blade of grass. I had half a hardtack in my pocket and 
a small piece of raw fat bacon, which I devoured with 
relish. I now stretched the sheep skin and made a pil- 
low of the head; and it was a little better than a rock. 
Not expecting anything to disturb me until morning, 1 
closed my eyes and tried to sleep; but the chilly wind 
and the rain coming thicker and faster, I did not get to 
sleep for over an hour. About i o'clock I was roused 
by a strange noise close by, and raising up on my elbow 1 
looked in the direction the sound came from, and to my 
.surprise saw on the edge of the rock where I had left the 
carcass of the sheep two large brown bears, which were 
fighting over the meat, 1 thought I would keep quiet 
and let them have it oiit. I also knew that if they got 
filled with the mutton they would not be so likely to 
bother me, and under the circumstances I did not care to 
have any closer relations with them just at present; but 
T did not .sleep any more, for it was hard to tell how 
many other bears there were in that part of the country, 
and the smell of the fresh meat would attract them frona 
a long way. I examined my little rifle very carefully 
and saw that it was well supplied with soft-nose cart- 
ridges. I also looked at the edge of my hunting knife 
and rubbed it a few times on the sole of my shoe. I did 
not want to be the attacking party, but if attacked I 
should certainly make the best of what I had. The bears 
kept on growling and eating until they had consumed 
nearly the whole sheep, and then slunk 'off along the 
ledges without even paying me a visit or thanking me 
for their supper. 
It was now breaking day and I had a long, hard waik 
before me and a heavy load to carry. I got up and 
stretched myself, and, strange to say, did not feel tirid, 
stiff or hungry. But I was wet to the skin from head 
to foot. I took a small rope and tied the head and hide 
of the sheep together, and throwing it over my shoulder 
started down to the glacier. There was quite a stiff breeze 
blowing, and I again took off my boots and started 
across, holding boots in one hand and with the other 
using the rifle as an Alpine staff. The sharp steel-pointed 
butt-plate was just the thing, arid had it not been for 
this rifle I never could have gotten across that day, for 
the wind got higher and higher, until I was compelled 
to lie down flat on the ice at tinies; and when I did get 
across I was almost exhausted. I had now about four- 
teen miles to camp over a rough and dangerous moun- 
tain, and not having had anything to eat for almost two 
days, I felt a little weak; but I kept right on, and about 
4 o'clock in the afternoon got sight of camp. My man 
soon had a good fire and plenty of meat and coffe read/. 
He was nearly wild with delight when he saw me, for he 
had given me up for dead. He examined the bighorn 
and the faultless white skin, and now regretted that he 
had not gone with me. I told him I had seen some others 
on this side of the glacier and I thought we would go 
back in the morning and get one for him. I dried my 
clothes and rested that night. 
The next morning we were up at daylight and drank 
a cup of coffee and ate a piece of broiled mutton, and 
were ready for another day's hard journey. We sighted 
the sheep about a mile from the place I had seen them 
the day before. When we got within half a mile of them 
I made him take off his black hat and black sweater and 
his heavy boots. This seemed very hard to him, but it 
was necessary in order to get our game. The sheep were 
feeding on the edge of a precipice, and we had to steal 
cautiously to a ledge of rock and then shoot over the 
embankment. When we got to the desired spot the sheep 
were feeding about looyds down the slope. There were 
three of them. I told my companion to take the one 
to the right and I would take the one on the left; he 
cocked his gun and got up when I did. As we rose the 
sheep scented us and off they started, two to the left and 
one to the right. I could only see them as they bounded 
in the air, but at each crack of the little Savage a sheejj 
fell. I now looked to my right and saw the other one 
getting away as fast as possible. I leveled my gun on 
him and he went down. All this time my friend stood 
perfect!}' motionless with his mouth Open. "I asked him 
why he did not shoot; he said he did not think of it 
until they were all gone. Then he raised his gun and 
shot at the one to his right, which was already down. 1 
told him it was no use to shoot at it, as it was already 
done for, but he was so bewildered he hardly knew what 
he was doing. We then walked over to the edge oi the 
slope, but could only see one sheep, though we knew that 
two had come down. On close examination we found 
that one of them had rolled over the embankment and 
gone down a precipice about 2,oooft. The other one 
was only saved by his massive horns, which struck the 
ground first and held him. It was a very dangerous 
thing to go near him, as the slope was at an angle_ of 
over 45 degrees, and the precipice was only a few feet 
below where he had fallen. I worked my down to where 
he was and tied a rope around his foot, as he was liable 
at an}' moment to roll over. I did not care to lose such 
a magnificent head. I had my little camera along and 
took a snap shot of him as he lay with his head bent 
under hJm, We propped him up with rocks as best we 
could and 1 held to his foot while Mr, Hill got him 
skinited. We then got the other head, which was over 
on the right, and with as much meat as we could carr^y 
we started for camp. On our way home we saw several 
eAves and Iambs, but did not disturb them. 
It was now 9 o'clock, and we had seven miles to go. 
Our way was around the edge of a deep ravine for about 
two miles; Ihen we had to go down the steep ledges to 
the bottom, and from there work our way down through 
tangled underbrush and deep holes of unknown depths. 
The fog and rain came down thick and fast, and the 
wind blew a stiff breeze from the west. We were both 
tired and almost. worn out. We heard a peculiar cry 
coming from the opposite side of the ravine. I first 
thought it was a mountain lion, but m}' Russian friend 
said not, but that he had heard the same cry a number of 
times before in northern Russia, and it was that of (•he • 
black Siberian wolf. He hesitated about going down the 
ravine, I tried to cheer him up, telling him that they 
were cowardly animals. But this did not go. He knew 
what they were and would not go a step further. The 
cries began to be a little more numerous and ranch 
sharper than when we first heard them. We wind was 
blowing direct from us to them, and we soon began to 
realize that we were the object of their pursuit. The 
smell of the fresh meat was what first attracted their at- 
tention. We now had either to leave the meat and 
heads and run for our lives, or else prepare for war. I 
preferred the latter, as I wanted to get a few of their 
hides anyway; but my Russian friend did not care to 
meet them. We could hear them coming down the op- 
posite side of the canon, and the rattling of loose rocks 
which gave way from under their feet, mingled with their 
fierce cries, made the blood curdle in every vein. The 
night was growing darker every moment, and there was 
no possible chance for retreat, for the mountain back of 
us was a solid mass of ice and snow. I demanded that 
we go right down the ledges into the canon and meet 
our enemy face to face, for I was satisfied I could attend 
to them as fast as they came in view. I kept about ten 
steps ahead of my man, and on reaching the bottom I 
looked a little ahead and saw on a large flat rock the 
form of some animal. I did not say anything until I got 
within ten steps of it. Then, when I saw it crouch as 
if preparing for a spring, I raised the rifle and took a 
random shot, and at the report the animal fell with a 
heavy thud on the opposite side of the rock. The wolves 
also stopped their cries for a few moments, and instead 
of waiting to examine what kind of a beast I had shot 
we moved rapidly on, as fast as our tired limbs could 
carry us. I now prepared myself for the worst, as I 
expected every moment that the black demons would be 
upon us. Presently we heard some fierce snapping and 
growling a few hundred yards behind us. Pausing for 
a moment we could distinctly hear their wicked jaws 
coming together. The way was now over open ground, 
and the camp was about three miles distant. The moss 
and underbrush made it very disagreeable walking, and 
the rushing streams which came down from the glaciers 
were not very inviting to wade through; some of them 
were knee deep and others iiearly up to our waists. If 
you have never taken a bath in ice water you cannot 
imagine how intensely cold those streams are. The noise 
of our pursuers was soon left behind. Yet we did not 
know when they might come stealthily upon us, and our 
ears were ever on the alert. 
The next trouble that confronted us was to find our 
camp, for it was now dark, and there was no road nor 
object to mark the location. The camp itself consisted 
only of a few stunted spruce trees, with some brush 
thrown over them. My man insisted that it was in one 
direction, while I contended it was in another. Fellow 
sportsmen who have lost tlieir way at night know what 
this means. Again I had to take the command, and after 
an hour's hard walking we discovered the little clump of 
trees. It was now about I2 o'clock, and we were quickly- 
stretched along the fire and fast asleep, with wet clothes 
on. We did not care now for wet clothes, cold wind.i, 
wolves, bears, nor anything else. Sleep and rest were 
what we must have, and we put in ten solid hours before 
we awoke. 
The sun was up several hours high and the spruce lo.gs 
had long since smouldered into ashes. The day was 
warm and cloudless (something rare in this part of the 
country). We ate a good breakfast of broiled mutton, 
and while my man attended to some camp duties I shoid- 
dered my rifle and walked up the ravine where I had 
shot the animal which the wolves had stopped to devour. 
On arrivin.g there a strange sight met the ej^e. The fres'n 
bones of at least half a dozen animals were scattered all 
around, and the earth was torn up as if a desperate stru.g- 
gle had taken place. Every particle of meat was de- 
voured, and only occasionally a tuft of hair was scat- 
tered on the blood-stained ground. I examined the hair 
carefully and found that some it was that of a wolverine, 
and it was this animal that had been crouching on the 
rock when I shot. I followed up the track of the wolves, 
and as near as I could count in the wet sand there must 
have been about eight or ten still left. I kept eyes and 
ears open, expecting every moment to see some of the 
.slinking creatures, for I did not think they would go 
very far from where they had had such a ravenous feast. 
They soon took to the ledges and I could not track 
them any further. I now thought they must have gone 
back the way they had come, and accordingly climbed 
up that side of the ravine. I was quite tired when I got 
to the top and sat down on a large boulder to examine 
the surrounding country. 
I could not see a living creature in any direction. T 
sat there for about half an hour, and was contemplating 
a return to camp, when I heard on the oppos-ite side of 
the canon a number of sharp, quick barks or yelps. I 
looked in the direction of the sound, but could not see 
a thing. Presently I discovered two sheep coming down 
the mountain, and about lOyds behind them five wolves. 
The pursuers seemed to be gaining, on their prey when 
they reached the cliffs; but the sheep plunged down, 
down, until they reached a wide;shelf, and here im.me- 
diately they turned around and with heads to the enemy 
waited the onslaught. The wolves came on barking nt 
every bound, and- springing from led.ge to ledge. The 
sheep stood perfectly motionless. The foremost wolf 
gained the shelf. Quick as a flash the sheep strvicjc him 
and hurled him off the cliff down to tile depths below. 
The other four came dashing on. As they stepped on 
the fatal ledge each one was sent thundering down m 
the same way. I was spellbound for a few minutes, t 
would have given almost anything I possessed for a pic- 
ture of the scene. The sheep walked leisurely to the 
edge of the precipice and looked over, then gazed around 
on every side and leisurely walked back and lay down. 
I could easily have killed both these .sheep, but I felt 
so proud of them that I would almost have sent a shot 
at any man who would molest them. I arn told on good 
authority that a large ram will defend the whole flock 
against any living animal that would give battle on their 
own grounds. I could not believe this untd I saw what 
I have described; but now I am convinced that a harm- 
less looking sheep can make as fierce a fight as an^ ani- 
mal I ever saw, when called on to defend his own rights, 
and so quick and effective are his blows that nothing 
can with.stand him. 
I walked down the ravine to where the wolves had 
been thrown over, and saw the mangled forms of three 
of them at the bottom. The otlier two had caught on the 
lower ledge and were also shattered to pieces on the 
sharp rocks. 
When I returned to camp T found my man had every- 
thing ready for an early start next morning, and after a 
good night's rest we proceeded dovi'n the mountain to 
our lower camp. We arrived there late in the afternoon 
and found the other two boys eagerly looking for us. 
They were so delighted with our trophies that we had 
to sit up until nearly midnight telling them about our 
adventures. The next day we set sail, and after two 
days' delightful sailing we came to anchor at Homer. 
Harry E. Lee. 
[to be goncluded.] 
On Kansas Prairies.— III. 
Tampa, Kan., March 25. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Don't you wish you were here just for a day. Our mo- 
tive power, a 10 horse-power engine is stalled by the mud. 
so the boss and all hands have gone home, leaving me 
to follow out my own sweet will. Camped here in a 
"cook shack" with plenty of provisions, a good stove and 
abundance of coal, I am as free as one of the wildfowl 
that are passing overhead as I look out. The newly sown 
wheat fields so lately made desolate by the breath of the 
blizzard, are greening in the sunshine. The fields of corn 
and wheat stubble varied by great stretches of unbroken 
prairie reach away as boundless and almost as level as 
the ocean itself. As one wanders out into the fields, over- 
head with honk and quack and whirr of wings, the wild- 
fowl in numbers,, at times goodly to look upon, are passing 
northward; around are heard the notes of the plover, 
blackbird, robin and many lesser birds ; from underfoot 
the rabbit scurries away; and best of all, occasionally are 
seen and heard the call and brown back of the prairie 
chicken. And then in the mud of the sloughs and ponds 
is written the book of the wild life of the prairie. The 
ducks, from the mallard down to the teal, waddling 
awkwardly, but ever keen eyed and alert, have been here. 
The hawk and owl as well as the lesser birds must stoop 
to drink. Bunny (for some reason that I do not under- 
stand, for otherwise I should think him too dainty to 
choose such places), makes this his playground. The 
whole tribe of fur-coated hunters, restless, uneasy and 
ever bloodthirsty, make this by right of might their high- 
way; and occasionally passing from one hunting ground 
to another that .sly fox of the prairie, the" coyote, leaves 
evidence of his presence. Truly it is a book full of in- 
terest to one who cares to read. 
A Red-Letter Day. 
We were camped down on "The Section" hunting 
chickens; but it was late November, and tlie chickens in- 
variably flushed wild; and so far as they were concerned 
the hunt was a failure. But we found an orchard of an 
acre or two grown up to sunflowers and other weeds and 
wholly surrounded by prairie. In one corner of this I 
unexpectedly flushed a strong bevy of quail; and scoring 
one, they scattered out through the. orchard, and then the 
fun commenced. One by one the birds were flushed and 
missed or gathered in as our skill did or did not equal 
theirs. How many, I do not remember. I know we left 
some unharmed. I3ut I do and always shall remember the 
surroundings of that day. All care a thing of yesterday or 
the future. Ahead, obedient, strong and eager, a very 
prince among dogs. To our certain knowledge, hidden 
among the weeds and unwilling to go out on the prairie 
an abundance of full-grown, strong-flying birds. Over- 
head the bonnie blue sky of Kansas. All around in their 
coloring of brown and old gold, flecked here and there by 
the shadow of a passing cloud, the prairies stretched off 
and away. The air cool and bracing; and mygelf, al- 
though worn by a long siege of hard work, yet in perfect 
health. Truly, life was worth living that day, and is 
richer now as write, for the memory of such a time. 
Mixed up with the rest of the pleasure came one of 
those incidents so puzzling and yet which go to make up 
the fascination of a day afield. A quail wholly unharmed 
was marked down in a patch of tall grass of possibly loft. 
square; and although three hunters and a dog, that can 
always be relied on to find a winged bird hidden in graos, 
leaves or anywhere else, looked that bit of grass tAro^igh 
and through, yet it was, I think, fully fifteen minutes be- 
fore the bird was flushed. It was no "spook" for the lead 
stopped it the same as the rest; but the question, how 
did she hide? remains unanswered to this day. 
One of your contributors asked what had become of the 
sand hill cranes. I know but little about them, as they 
seldom light hereabouts, but pass overhead both fall and 
spring. Pine Tree. 
A telegraph operator along the Northern line received 
a slight shock a few nights ago by witnessing what 
appeared to him to be the Bishop's Falls wolf surveying 
him through the office window, as though he (the sup- 
posed wolf) were meditating on the best plan to secure 
him for his breakfast. On closer investigation the cause 
of the alarm turned out to be a dog. — St. Johns (New- 
foundland) News. 
