The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1871-01-12
Hunting Rocky Mountain Sheep.


have hunt after the famous mountain
sheep. My companions liked the idea
Of dash ut the hard heads" and we
all three set out together. The sun met
US as we toilcd up the sleeps, and it was
scarcely half an hour high when La
FrOmbc, who was in advance, halted
and pointing to cliff half mile dis.
tant, said, There they are.' We look ed
in the direction indicated aud saw a
group of four sheep walking along the
edge Of precipice, They had not yet
discovered us, and we stood still until
they pissed out Of sight behind some
projecting rocks, and then ran us fast
us we could along the mountain side
until we were directly under whore we
had seen our game. Carefully ascend
ing from crag to crag, we were not long in
coming upon their fresh tracks, and now
We crept along, looking carefully ahead
at every turn. Presently La Frombe
pointed to the right, aud there, standing
on rock, scarcely two hundred yards
from us, were three large sheen, We
each selected sheep-La Fromhc tax :
ing the one on the left, the Saptec the
one in the middle, and | the farthest on
the right. AT signal from La Frombe
we fired together, aud when the smoke
cleared away saw one sheep lying on the
rock. l ran as fast as could up the
rocks, and arrived in time to sec the
other two big horns going around the
bluff quarter Of mile off, La Frombe
had killed his game, but the Sauteo aud
had missed our mark |, however,
noticed blood on the stones, and know
lng that one Of the other two was woun.
dcd, determined to follow them. Leaving
La Frombc and the Santee to skin and
dress the dead animal, | climbed from
ravlue to rayine and rock to rock for
nearly an hour, and had began to de-
spair OF seeing my game again, when |
unexpectedly came upon some blood and
tracks | saw where the sheep had lain
blu, a few minutes before, aud as there
was some soft soil ut this point so
could follow the tracks, l crawled care
fully along. | paused often to watch
and listen, but could see nothing, and
all was silent as only the vast solitudcs
Of a mountain can be. | had began to
descend little, with view Of getting
among some scrubby pines near by, in
order the better to shield myself from
observation, aud just as reached them,
| saw stately ram walking slowly
along a ledge Of rocks, closely followed
by small eve. l was yet too far away
to shoot with precision, aud as they were
moving slowly, and had not sccu me, |
stood still until they turned the rock
They were moving parallel with me, and
now FASTENED; under cover ofthe pines,
to get ahead Of them, if possible. AZ
ter getting one or two falls, aud nearly
breaking my gun and neck over the
stones, | perceived the sheep nearly
above me, and not oyer two hundred
yards distant. | crawled to the edge Of
the rock, aud selecting an open spot,
where | knew the sheep would pass,
rested my gun, In momeGt they ap.
peared, aud when the ram came oppo.
site the end of my rife, | fired, The
old fellow dropped, rolled over, turned
upon his horns, aue fell over forty feet,
lighting on his head. Hunting the
Rocky Mountain sheep is the only sport
that approximates to any thing like the
famous chamois hunting Of olden times
The flesh Of these sheep is very good,
but they are exceedingly difficult to kill
When pursued by the hunter, or woun.
ded, they will frequently throw them
selves over prccipices fifty feet high,
and light on their horns, apparently
without hurting themselves in the least
He was desperately wounded, but still
able TO rise. As he steadied himself
for another jump put third ball into
him; and he lay down on the rocks. ]
scrambled up to him, and when he saw
me he made desperate efforts to get
upon his feet. He lay upon his side
his great red eyes rolling fiereely. When
| went near him he bleated ptcously
aud struck with his forcfeet, at the same
time tossing his great horns savagely
about. | tried for some time to gel
hold of him, not wishing to shoot hin
again as had but two charges left il
my gun, aud | had left my ammunition
belt behind, in order to climb the bet
ter. Every time | approached he STRUCK
at me, until, finally losing my patience
| pounced upon him from behind, ant
seiziug hold of one of his horns, at
tempted to draw my hunting. knife across
his throat. Throwing back his heat
with strength that surprised me, h,
struck me with his horn on the knee
and almost broke my leg. 1t was onl,
after severe struggle that l was abb
to drive my knife into his neck an,
finish him.
When | had killed the ram locke,
, up, aud there stood the doe, hardly fit
yards distant. She had been looking u
, the death of her mate, and now, eve
, as looked at her, bounded nimbly ava
. over the rocks. l fred shot after he,
but it did not hit her, and | sat dow
perfectly satisfied with my ram.
| was not long ia signaling my con
', panions, and presently | heard the lon
italia no" Of La Frombe, who wa
coming up the steeps below me to m
assistance.
had my sheep skinned aud dresse
by the time they came up, and the pine
affording favorable place, We cut Q
some of the choice bits, roasted the
on the Goals, aud diped.
, We were all three very tired; an
: having had enough Of sheep hunting f
one day. we rested for A nnnnle of hour