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About The illustrated west shore. (Portland, Or.) 1891-1891 | View Entire Issue (April 4, 1891)
220 THE WEST SHORE. Wee s?iK&lnll AMONG THE BIG HORNS. There were several of us young fellows, while crossing the divide between the Yellowstone and Missouri rivers, who were very often away from the train, on account of the better facilities for capturing game. One evening four of us, Fred, Harry, Joe and myself, were camped in a willowy canyon, near a roaring cascade and while discussing the adventures of our day, along with our trout and venison, we also planned a next day's raid among the " big horns " in their mountain fastnesses. To insure an early start we soon turned into our blankets, and in short order were sleeping at the regular Rocky mountain rate, which, by way of par enthesis, means about as soon as one gets well settled in his blanket, a dreamless, restful oblivion takes posses sion of him, and apparently in about seven seconds it vanishes, he n wide awake, and another fresh, rosy dawn is at hand. Refreshed by the " sev en seconds' oblivion," we laved, breakfasted and were early in the saddle and working our way towards the upier valleys. About eight o'clock we separated, and, as it was deemed neces sary to hunt in pairs as a greater security from grij- ilies, and alio to render aiil in scaling precipices, where falls were liable at any mo ment, we iaircd off, Joe and I keeping together. Ily ten o'clock we were in the uper "pastures," or vales i and having every reason to exect game in the vk inity we dismounted and staked out our horses. Par taking of n hasty, but hearty lunch, we hid under a projecting rock our blankets and other baggage, and with our titles started on fotH for the higher regions. Two hours of hard climbing found us in what should 1 the home of the " big horn," and while taking one of our rests, during which we were speculating as to our chances of success, a distinct " blat " was wafted to our ears. Simultaneously we started to our feet and glanced about us to discover, if KKsible, the author of the call. Not seeing the animal, we cautiously advanced towards a point a hundred yards away, and reached it in time to see hryond, rounding a similar point, a band of eight sheep, headed by a huge buck adorned with massive horns. Quickly we drew back to allow them to ass out of sight without alarm, and soon as the last rump disappeared started at the greatest vml the nature of the ground would admit of, hoping to be in easy range by the time we reached the point where (he land was List seen. After several stumbles and, I may say, narrow escaes, we reached the ow ned gnat, and at first were nonplused at seeing no signs of the game. Soon, however, our eyes were gladdened by the sight of the band marching leisurely along the face of an opHisite cliff and in fairly easy range. No time was to be lost i so telling Joe I would lake the leader, our rifles came to sh.vulder r i J i ii A liOOll-MZKI) ROCK WAS IIROI'I'KI) OVKR THK KIHiK. and instantly their simultaneous reports followed. The band was thrown into the wildest confusion. Headed by the old buck, they dashed forward and quickly turned the next point, that is, excepting one of the younger bucks, which, after a few wild plunges, sprang from the causeway and fell to the slop ing ground below, where he slid and rolled, struggling, to the bottom of the canyon. This was Joe's game, and he was immensely proud thereof, being his first " big horn," and as I was as yet innocent of slaying any of that species, he began twitting me of that fact. However, there was no time to compare victories, and I was soon in full jump and scramble for a position to view the fleeing band, hoping yet to drop the leader, while Joe was as eagerly descending to where his game had fallen. A quarter of an hour, or perhaps less, found me at the point where the band was under fire ; blood splashes were at hand, but they disappeared at the point where Joe's buck went over. Looking closely as was possible in my hurried advance, I was not slow in concluding I had scored a complete miss, and the old " big horn " was still in the fullest enjoyment of health. Upon gaining an eligible point for observation, I scanned the sides of canyon, pinnacles, ridges, depths and heights, but could see no living thing. Knowing they were hope lessly lost to me, I stood watch ing and listening for some time, and at length my patience was rewarded, if it might be deemed so, by seeing the whole band trailing in file up a long point nearly a mile away ; and when the leader reached the pinnacle he turned towards me, his mas sive form clearly outlined against the sky, stamped and looked a moment, then, fol lowed by his band, quickly disappeared down the farther slope. That was the last sight of them vouchsafed me, so turning about I began a descent in order to assist at Joe's bar becue. An hour later we were seated at a roaring fire, partak ing of a savory repast of moun tain mutton, As it was getting well along towards the night, we loaded ourselves with choice parts of the game, and started for the lower valley, where our horses were, hoping to reach it ere dark. Near dusk we had reached the top of the precip itous cliffs, which beetled a thousand feet above the valley, and halted for a momentary consultation. I wished to withdraw into a small canyon and camp, as a storm was brewing ; for that reason Joe was anxious to keep on, and, as he was so sure we could make the descent before dark, I gave way, and we started down the side cut we had traversed in the early part of the day. As the causeway was from three to eight feet wide, with but few breaks, under ordinary circumstances it would be considered a safe route ; but the storm coming upon us, we were enveloped m deep darkness ere half way down. Soon, however, the letterings merged into the grandest thunders that ever made mountains quake, and then the lightning began to play all about us. For once I must confess I was afraid of it ; but, if it was dangerous, it also gave us an opportunity to descend more nipully, um.l the rain began to f.ill-and such a downpour I It seemed to put out the lightning almost the first dash, and we groped along the cliff in discon solation and darkness. On one land we were defended by a perpendicular wall, on the other threatened by perpendicular fall , but our work was cut out for us. All we had to do wa, to keep one hand against the cliff and shuffle along, with hesi ta.mg fiH.ts.rps ; and when we came to one of the many perpendicular descents of from one to three fat, we go, down on all fours and felt down with one foot until wh a deep mspiration, we touched the next grade. Being the longer man I was m advance ; and I shall never forge, one of those declivities which I had luffl.-d down , and, after a momentary swing of the foot in space, THK HAND MAkCHKI) LKISl'RE I.Y ALONG THK KA( K OF AN UIMUSITE Cl.tKK.