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.