Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-02-07
A HUNT FOR NOBLE GAME.
TRAILING THE MOUNTAIN GOAT IN THE WiLDS OF IDAHO.

perience in Bringing Down the Flee l Footed and Raro Animal-He Had ,
 Genuine Attack of Buck Fever" | left Boise City, Idaho, with a half bree, guide and two pack mules Our destinatio,
 was the Sawtooth range of mountains. tn,
 only spot in tho United States where tn, | Rocky mountain goat is to be found Aftel
 tedious tramp of week we found ourselye
 near lofty peak of the range known as Sil yer mountain Here we pitched our cam, 1 and began the hnnt for game Two day l passed without success.
 The third day, just before sundown. , sharp exclamation from the half breed. fol
 lowed by confused jabbering of English French and Indian words, suddenly put ,nx tired senses on the alert
 My eyes quickly followed the direction ir
 which his finger pointed Outlined against the sky on point of rocks far above us gag ing down evidently with mingled fear and curiosity, stood mammoth male specimen of the identical game for which our pilgrim. age had been made to the Sawtooth range lie was apparently out of reach of my rife.
 but, nevertheless, good judgment deserted
 me Just when it was needed and blazed
 away at the old fellow. The bullet knocked
 up cloud of dust fifty feet below him.
 He gave contemptuous snort, reared on
 his hind legs turned on them as if on a pivot
 and again stood facing us I had my rife to
 my shoulder again by this time, having
 raised the sights a trife. and gave him the
 benefit of another shot, this time making the dirt fly just under his nose. Another snort and again he stood erect and pirouetted like ballet dancer
 THE FIRST VICTIM
 Just then l heard the report of gun by my side. The half breed had tried his hand and with much better success. His bullet struck the goat squarely in the breast and penetrated his heart. He gave shrill whis- ting cry, as if of warning, sprang into the air, and then his body came rollinr and tum bling down the hillside until it landed at our feet.
 There's more of them where he came from" said the half breed, as he quietly drew his knife and began to remove the hide while the body still quivered. I wanted to rush LID the hillside ill hot pursuit, but my companion restrained me-
 NO use now; all gone; wait till morning." said he, "To-morrow we get all we want"
 He was as cool as the mountain stream which ran down the hillside & short distance away, While l was experiencing genuine at tack of "buck fever" and shaking like a leaf However, l managed to recover my conpos- ure, and examined the animal before me. He was one of the largest of his species, and must havc weighed over 800 pounds. In build I Know of nothing he more nearly resembled than the little black bears in Lincoln park. His body was large and heavy, and his legs short and stunted But his hide It was the prettiest pelt had ever set eyes on during all my experience in the northwest. Snowy White ln color, with long, straight hair like an Angora goat, it almost made my mouth water as l looked at it, and in q moment had reached into my pocket, pulled out ten dollar gold piece and given it to the half breed with tho understanding that it was to be my individual property. have it now in my home in Hyde Park, and no amount of money could buy it from mo, although I was offered five times its price shortly after my return to Boise City, and could have sold it on several occasions since then at handsome advance
 HE SECOND DAYS HUNT.
 Early next morning we swallowed some coffee, nibbled a cracker, and, shoulderinr our guns, started up the mountain side to- wards the spot where the goat had been killed the night before. Reaching the point of rocks, the half breed searched for q few mo- ments and then said
 Come on."
 l followed him. The snow was crushed and broken for several hundred yards, show Ing that immediately after the death of the l leader the flock of a dozen or more goats | which had been with him had suddenly stam- peded and fled without any particular aim l except to get away from the spot Then the trail narrowed, and finally it appeared as if | some of the younger bucks had taken cou,- l nand and led the retreat. Day was just 1 breaking, and above us the peaks were glint~ 1 sd with the gold of the coming sun, The l lalf breed broke into a rapid trot, and it a1ed me to the utmost to keep up with him. foAnearly mile he kept up his speed, and hen suddenly stopped.
 Mot far off now," said the half breed, They sleep pretty close to here."
 Then with a warning to go slow and watch every footstep made him lead the vay. We were approaching narrow point f rocks, and just before reaching it he topped.
 Around there," was the brief injunction. Me climb over rocks and scare lem back. hen you get shot at 'em."
 My nerves were like steel by this time, and oncealing myself behind tree I waited. he half breed wriggled over the peak and isappeared. Half an hour and not a sound hen l heard far away two faint reports instantly braced myself In few seconds ne flock came racing round the corner and ame straight toward me. had placed my slf so that I calculated they would pass :arcely dozen yards away. Past me they aced, and I let the leader have it suuarely ehind the shoulder. He sprang to his feet nd then dropped dead A female goat just ahind him stumbled and fell over the body. he others huddled together and emptied lot after shot into the flock from my repeat until all except four suddenly turned and 'ed back in the direction from which they 'iginally came. They had scarcely disap- sared around the rocks before 1 heard the alf breeds gun He had hurried m r,,, tho l