THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN 
75 
Even Uncle Ely's mouth popped open in surprise. 
They had rounded a comer in the rocky trail—and 
were face to face with a bighorn ram! Moreover, just 
beyond him was a ewe, and behind her were two or 
three more of the animals. 
The animals were as startled as the people. Never- 
theless, things happened fast. 
Uttering a strange noise—a sort of baaa and snort 
combined—the big ram jumped back. His move 
warned the other animals. 
With truly amazing speed, then, all of them left 
the trail. Down, down they jumped—seeming almost 
to fly, yet touching and sliding and leaping down the 
rocky slope. How they kept their footing no one 
could ever say. People, horses, cows, mules, anything 
but a wild sheep or wild goat would surely have stum¬ 
bled and fallen to death. 
But while Uncle Ely and Buck and Ginger stood 
motionless with interest and surprise, these remark¬ 
able beasts did the impossible. In fewer seconds than 
it takes to tell, the bighorns had disappeared. Not 
until then could the children even breathe again. 
“Whee-e-e-eeew!" whistled Buck, turning to look 
up at Uncle Ely. 
“Me, too, Buck! That's something we won't forget!" 
