The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-07-21
SHEEP THAT CAN FIGHT.
the Kind Tint Alaska Raises VIII
Attack and Whip Wolves.

While my man attended to some camp
duties, shouldercd my rifle and walked
up tile ravine where | had shot the ami
NAL which the wolves had stopped to de-
YOUR. On arriving there Il strange sight
met the eye. The fresh bones OF at least
half 4 dozen animals were scattered all
around, and the earth was torn up as If a
desperate struggle had taken place.
Every particle of meat was devoured and
only occasionally Il tuft of hair was scat
tered on the blood stained ground.
l examined the hair carefully and
found that some OF it was that of n vol
VERNE, and it was this animal that had
been cruuching on the rock when | shot.
| followed up the track of the wolves,
and, as near as | could count in the wet
sand, there must have been eight or ten
still left. kept eyes and ears open, cx-
pectinS every moment to see some of the
sinking creatures, for l did not think
they would 20 very far from where they
had had such ravenous feast. They
took to the lodges, and | now thought
they must have gone back the way they
had come, and accordingly climbed up
that side of the ravine. l was quite tired
when | got to the top and sat down on
Il large bowlder to examine the surround
ing country.
! could not see Il living creature in any
direction. l sat there for about half an
hour and was contemplating a return to
camp when i heard on the opposite side
of the canyon number of sharp, quick
banks or yclps. | looked in the direction
of the sound, but could not see a thing.
Presently l discovered two sheep coming
down the mountain, and about ten yards
behind them five wolves. The pursucrs
seemed TO be gaining on their prey when
they reached the cliffs; but the sheep
plunged down, down, until they reached
a wide shelf. and here Immediately they
turned around, and with heads to the
enemy waited the onslaught. The wolves
came on, barking at every bound and
springing from ledge to ledge.
The sheep stood perfectly motionlcsS.
The foremost wolf gained the shelf.
Quick as a flash the sheep struck him
and hurled him off the cliff down to the
depths below. The other four came dash
ing on. AS they stepped on the fatal
ledge each one was sent laundering down
in the same way. | WAS srellbound for
Il few minutes. | would have given al
most anything l possessed for Il picture
of the scene. The sheep walked leiSurely
TO the edge of the prccipicc and looked
over, then gazed around on every side
and lciSurely walked back and lay down.
l could easily have killed both Of these
sheep, but | felt so proud of them that
l would almost have sent Il shot at any
man who would modest them.
] am told on good authority that Il
large ram will defend the whole flock
against any living animal that would
give battle OH their own grounds. ! could
not believe this until saw what have
described. But now I am convinced that
Il harmless looking sheep can make as
fierce Il fight as any animal | ever saw
when called on to defend his own rights.
and so quick and effective are his blows
that nothing can withstand him.
l walked down the ravinc to where the
wolves had been thrown over, and saw
the mangled forms of three of them at
the bottom. The other two had caught
on the lower ledge and were also shutter
cd to pieces on the sharp rocks.-Forest
and Stream.