The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-26

cSmoi we uDpAcEeu ana prepared 70 spend inc
rest OF the day in this spot. The apareIoes Uere
set as usual Ia a row In the foreground, and the-
cargo assorted according to the order in which
we might wish to make use OF any portion OF 1t.
We had been favored with unusually clear
weather ever since leaving Denver, with the ex-
cepton or one or two insignificant showers. IL
was superb night, and, with nothing over us but
our blankets and the broad canopy OF heaven, we
lay down to sleep and peaceful dreams.
Getting or by seven o'clock the next morning,
we had hardly travelled three miles when rare
sight met our eyes, the like OF which, In ali proba-
bity we snail never see again. Several OF u
mad been riding in the rear OF the train,
WATCHING OLD 'JAKE,n
one or the largest pack mules, who at every op-
portunity would stink into some secluded clamp
OF bushes by the wayside and lie down unob-
served. This he had already done several times,
and once or twice we had been on the verge or
losing him. As we rode through marrow canyon
walled on one side by steep bank covered with
trees ana on the other by towering mass or
perpendicular rock, happening TO glance upward,
we saw, standing on one or the narrow lodges OF
the latter, mock OF sheep, which some OF US &C
first took for antelope, which was very rIdleu-
lous error Every enc observed them AZ the same
time, and Tor instant, great was our surprise,
not man stirred in his saddle. There, with inqnis-
tive gaze, unmXed with fear, scarcely 100 feet
above us, were seven Rocky Mountain sheep, nve
Of them full grown and two OF them small lambs.
In our excitement we did not determine now
many were rams and how many ewes but as both
sexes are endowed with horns, this oversight may
have been excusaple. At the same sstsond, as II
at a given signal, each man leaped from his scar,
and bending one knee to the ground, picked out
mis- animal and fired. There was quick move
ment among our animals, and almost instantane-
nj m N al
two little lambs, however, appeared again In
perpendicular crevice near the summit OF tho
rock, and, bleating piteousiy, skipped over such
seemingly inaccessible places that they resem-
bed nies gliding rapidly up a wal. This
was. the signal for numerous wild shots; for, al
though most Of the boys were good marksmen,
the sudden unlooked-for appearance OF this noble
game unnerved them and they shot wide OF the
mark. Thus 1t came about that we had no tender
ld-mutton for our dinner.
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP.
few words 10 this place relative TO these ami
mails may be or interest. A ful-grown ram IL as
large as a geod-siZed domestic calf Its coat or
hair resembles In texture and color that OF deer,
being coarse and OF gray color. The horns are
stout and curved backward, as in domestic
sheep, with the excepl ion that they are much
larger. The female possesses them also,
being stralghter and shorter Hunters say
that IN descending from rocky elm
they throw themselves sometimes over
fifty feet, aligating on their horns, which are so
elastic that the animal bounds into the air and
aehts on It's feet. This IA very plausible, as the
Indians use these horns for bows, possessing some
means Of strengthening them ont for this purpose.
An ordinary sheep viii weigh 500 or 600 pounds
The excitement being over (who can blame 3
man for becoming excited on such an occasion,
when IL Is known that these animals are becoming
so rare even in these mountains y there MAS
nothing lett TO do but resume our journey, re-
GREETING the haste with which we had acted. But
not a mule was to be seen. After few moments
search we discovered them in q little hollow,
surrounded by a dense thicket, In when
they had unwlttlngly corralIed themselves,
ali standing In a circle, with their long, solemn
noses touching, seeming to be consulting among
themselves which way 70 proceed to get aIay
from their prosecutors We drove on for ABOUT
fourteen miles before stopping for the day. The
road lay in dust six inches thick, and, as the vino
blew brlsky, we were constantly enveloped IN Q
dense cloud. our eyes soon felt Ike deserts OF
sand. with a mud pool IN each corner, and We
were IKE blind men following the blind. Where
we were compelled to camp there was ne water In
the neIghborhood for several miles, excepting one
stagnant, aIthy puddle OF black mud, where the
cattle had been walowing. II resemoled the black
nllh OF a city refuse sink; but as there was .
spring at the bottom ana there was no 0thGr
available water, we had TO make the best Of IL.
Digging out the sinking muck with spade, We
walled the hole mp with stones, aud bailing the
dirty water ont for over an hour, were rewarded
at length with some toleraoly clear water, wkicn
We were compelled TO drink ourselves after inter-
ing ard dip out In buckets to the thirsty animals
But IL was csol, and by shutting our eyes TO avoid
seeing ne color and by holding our breath 10 pre-
vent the door from choking Us. we could imagine
IL by strange sort OF mental leEerdemain, clear
cool, sparkling healthful beverage.
From our camp on OAK Greek we picked MP
along the way from time 10 tune small pieces OF
rich ore containing lead, copper, iron, and not a
little silver. Ii had evidently been dropped from
wagons loaded with the ore from the ROslta mines,
ana meeting some men VITA two wagon loads or
the precious metal, were presented with
sample OF the best mine In that locality, which
specimen was the ricnest we had ever seen. We
we're now very near wet Mountain valley, which
would nave TO be crossed in day or So aud in SC
cordance with It's legendary character tho shy
even now becams overcast and threatening; 50
we put up our tents beneath the shelter OF tue
giant pines, through Which tue wind sighed plain.
lively waiting their sweet odors around us to
soothe US 10 sleep.