The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1884-12-13
THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT.
The Ruse by Which Huntor Secured
His Game.

His Game.
William A. Baillie- -Grohman in The Century, I
The antelope goat is singularly fear
less animal, while its innate curiosity
will load it to brave dangers from which /
most other wild animals will flee. Let /
me relate one incident that will prove
this. had sighted q solitary ram graz /
ing on ono Of the frequent amphitheatre !
shaped steep slopes, but well down about
the middle of the declivity, while was
on the top of the knife backed ridge
Unfortunately the goat had seen me,
and had taken to his hoofs, but in
very leisurely manner, keeping in his
fight course parallel to mine,
l. G., appr coaching neither the top nor
the bottom OF the slope. SIdged it tc
be some $50 yards down to him, aud my
trial shot, taken very steadily while he
was making one Of his frequent stands,
and which missed him little to the
left, proved my estimation to be fairly
correct.
hoped to get nearer, so | reserved
my fire, and for the next three-quarters
of an hour most exciting steeple-chase
tork place, ! following the ridge, which
was Of the usual inn ossible character
while the ram pursued, us have said
a parallel course, keeping half
way Up the slope. The chamois
would have put himself boy ond
distance in few minutes. True, the
path was not smooth one; indeed, it
was as rough as it well could bc, huge
powders, piled over each other or separ.
ated by dark yawnins chasms, generally
too broad even for goats muscle,
making progress very slow. But nc
doubt there was good deal Of fooing
about the old rams proceedings; fol
from time to time he would squat down
and take rest much amused, no doubt
by the frantic scrambes of his breath.
less pursuer above him, clearly outlined
against the horizon, and feeling very sure
that the shaking aim would be anything
but dangerous to him. In this he
wasright; for eleven times in the course
of that singular race did throw myself
fiat on some handy rock, and take as
delibcra aim as my shaking hands,
trembling from the exertion in the try
ing atmosphere of these high attitudes,
would allow. .leyentimes the bullet
whizzcd past him. once detaching a
fragment Of rock, which must have hit
him, for could distinctly perceive him
make side jump
Twas very nearly at my winds end, y
completely tagged out by my
run, which, as l looked back,
! saw covered very nearly
the whole asst semicirclc of the ridge,
and which, as attervard found, was
krcnly watched with glasses by my
friend and some Of the men from theii
camp, far down The mountain-side. By
this tine | had one cartridge left
Hunter and hunttd w,re approaching
t!le 1ndtof the semicirc.c ridge, where il
fell 0 in one enormous preeipice, a con
iguratiGn OF the ground that, OF course
would shortly terminate the chase, {
continuation being only feasible t.
winged creatures. The ram, still abou
4GO yards of, was steering for tooth
like crag, separated from tn
main ridge by profound abyss
Here evidently he felt himself secure
and rs ] watched him sit down var
lCisurely to take in all the fun of my dc
feat, | iclt very nc. artable sentiment
escaping my parched and breathless lips
A quarter Of an Il surs much-needet
breathing spell allowed me at this juno
turc to survey the ground. The distanc
separating us was about 400 yards
would have been folly to risk my las
cartridge at This long range. The raj
was evidently feeling very much 4
, home, and (as | could easily see with IN
glasses) kept bis gaze steadfastly tixe
upon me.
The formation Of the ground, as
presently discovered, favored the on
ployment of the following ruse--whicl
: as the sequel will show, proved success
ful. Retiring bchiiitl the top Of til
ridge, took off my canvas jumper an
hat, dressed up handy stone with thes
Il garments, and, slowl, lifting it on I'll
top OF the ridge, deposited it there,
plain sight of The waichful ram. The
| disappeared, and made long dotou
including a disagreea bic creep along
e ledge, where my progress was tantali
ingly slow-for the precarious natul
of the shelving rock, in places only
= foot or two in width With a dee
prccipice at my side, O. lged INC 10 tai
e off my boots and stockings so as to gal
surer footing while the wind. Ill
pleasantly cold, pi,rced my single uppc
u garment Ia flannel slirt), saturated wit
perspiration making me shiver al
shake. finally managed to wealth,
the great buttress OF rock at a conside
y ably lower level, and to approach Il
ram from dire, tion he little expccte
q to within $50 yards or so. II was /
anxious minute as lifted my head inC
o by inch over pro ecting ledge, al
there, in plain view, saw II
y game, his gazed still fixed upwa
: at my dummy. For full fse mnlt
- lay there; what with the exciteme
6 and my breathlessncss, instinctiyt
felt that every minute thus gained wou
bring my bullet an inch nearer to i
! quarry. When finally my Express peal
= forth its sharp crack, the ram was l
meat.
% A most singular, not to say ia 1tast
= habit of the antelop goat is WI rhy
special notice. 1t Is he practice Of S
y ting up on his haun hes like a dog, q
v when anything startles him to sol
3, back and raise his front legs from I
., ground, much IN thu position oil a 'bt
ging' poodle The hide and hair on [
nd rump of the old animals are quite VIC
90 and much thicker than elsewhere.
> one occasion | approached such SOU
y, ting goat to within sixty yards.
on WY Ncgrcps Are Black.
lndianapoN geatinell
~ Surgeon MAJ. y Altock has c,
= tributed 10 Nature interesting q
1s munitation as 10 NY the tropical n
iis IL ianl, IN, which h. s1a4.srnstS TINT aS