Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-06-09


they were making for one of the hol-
| lows running down from the cliffs.
We would wait until they bad gone
there, then follow quickly, without
any danger of being detected, and
bring down the finest of the flock.
When theS last sheep had disap-
peared over the brow OF the gulcb,
We started off on the double quick
across the open ground.
When we reached The brushwood
that crowned the side of the gulch,
the sheep were going up the slope on
the other side, the big fellow with
the horns in the lead, and almost
half way up.
Fred was really the first to get his
rife ready, and putting it to his
shoulder, he fired. Down fell the
leader, and away bounded the others
in every direction.
Dropping his rife, Fred fairly
leaped into the gulch, and then, rush
ing up TO where the old fellow was
lying, had his knife at his throat.
But Fred's aim had not been sure.
The ball had only indicted flesh
wound on the neck and SO, when
the patriarch felt the prick of the
knife, he put his two hundred pounds
into motion, with wild spring sent
| Fred down the hill into the brush
wood, and tore up the slope as if
grizzly bear was after him.
could not help it. / know l
should not have done it, but I burst
into LOUD fit of laughter, which in
creased as Fred kicked and struggled
to get up.
The sheep must have heard me for
when he got to the top of the slope
he turned round and glared, as much
as il he wanted to say, "Who are you
laughing at 2"
This was fatal mistake.
Martin Conway who was standing
next to me, raised his rife; there
was report, and the patriarch drop
ped dead.
By this time the rest of the flock
were leaping up the craigs beyond
rifle range, and we turned our atten-
ton to the dead leader.
Martin waived his light to the
horns, insisting that Fred was really
entitled to them, but we could see
that he was smarting under his fall
and the way in which l had laughed
at him.
felt sorry myself for what had
done, and told him so.
That's all right, old man." he
said. I expect it was really very
funny. But some day you may, as
the French say, return to your NUT
tons, and then III have my innings.
He laughs best who laughs last"
We had some delicious mutton
chops for dinner, and then we start
ed on the homeward track.
We had better luck now. Com.
ing down the mountain we killed
both bear and antelope, and just as
we neared the open valley we came
upon band of elk.
"Now is your chance to distin-
guish yourself" said Fred to me.
"The best and safest way TO bag an
elk is to bury yourself in a cllmp of
bushes and wait for him 10 come to
you"
I thought Fred was poking fun at
me, and so replied:
"That may be all right when you
are hunting sheep. bet think | know
how to hunt elks. Let's herd up
this band, and close IN on them in a
circle. That's the best way
We did this, but somehow or other
all of them got away, except one big
fellow, who seemed to be fairly cor
ncred.
NJ companions said they would
give me q shot at him, so | fred and
down be fell down on his side and
lay motionless. / looked around for
approval.
Good shot," said Fred. L" You
know all about elks."
81 suppose you'll skin him now"
observed Henry Bradshaw, the fourth
member of our party, with what l
thought tantalizing smile on his
| face.
" Certainly 1 will" assured.
And, whipping out my knife, /
walked over to the PROSTATE elk.
I got square over on his neck, and
was about.to begin the 6aying pro
cess, when he just rose up with me
on his neck, and, tossing his head
caught ne squarely on his horns.
l tried to hang on to them, but
could rot, and was thrown high into
the air, falling on the sage brush
with a force that knocked the breath
all out of me.
Just as the elk was about to stamp
on me, my friends fired, and down
he came, narrowly missing falling
upon me.
Then | suppose | tainted, for the
next thing that l remember wa:
somebody pouring some liquid dowr
my throat and Fred saying
after all it costs more to learr