The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-03-15

goat was off at an angle and, carefully
overlooking the ground, we saw a way
by which we might possibly approach
without alarming it. A short distance
from the ledge on which we stood, and
some ten feet above it. was narrower
one. fully sixty feet long. leading In
the right direction. l made loop OF
the rope Simpson carried and soon las
seed stout little pine that stood near
the end of the upper ledge, and we
had little trouble in pulling ourselves
up. Moving cautiously along our new
route, we soon reached the point where
we had seen what seemed to be an
easier ascent, and we were not mis-
taken. 1t was evidently the track of
former avalanche, for 1t stretched
from near the top Of the mountain to
what appeared to be broad ledge 1OO
feet below us; and while the ground
was not by any means smooth, 1t was
free from the larger rocks that
abOunded In other places.
The incline was steep. but gave pref
ty good footing, and with our rifles at
ready we began the ascent. When
we had gone about fifty feet happened
to look In the direction where the goat
ought to be and what saw brought
ne up with a suddenness that almost
took away my breath. Unaware of our
presence, the game had been approach
Ing u.s. and there, on jutting point OF
| rock, not 200 feet away, he stood with
his white, graceful form and his ebony
like horns, clearly outlined against q
background Of blue sky.
His side was toward us and he was
looking down the mountain, motionless
and beautiful as statue. Silently
touched Mr.. Percy's arm and pointed to
the goat He stopped instantly and l
way to admiration in his face as he in
voluntarily raised his gun.
The report rang out and the goat
springing up into the air, fell back up
on the rock dead. At the same moment
there was scrambling sound and .
sharp ejaculation behind us, followed
immediately by howl of terror. We
TUNED quickly and saw Simpson whirl.
ing at frightful speed down the
mountain side in the old track Of the
avalanche, and carrying with him a
stream of small rocks and cloud OF
dust. The man rolled over and over
in his descent and was apparently GO
Ing to certain death.
Obeying my first impulse, l started
after him, when trod upon a smooth
rock, over which there was thin layer
Of sand, my feet slipped from under
me, and the next minute l was on my
way to join the Inflated Simpson.
But I had faced danger too often to
give way to panic. l threw out my
hands, but could find nothing, and
vainly tried to roll myself to one side
My only safety lay in chance projec-
ton of either rock or root on the ledge
below me. l looked anxiously down.
and my heart gave a great jump as
saw Simpson suddenly disappear over
the ledge. Immediately afterward
found myself hanging partly over the
ledge, with my left arm locked around
| tut IOOI VI pihc tIccp WHICH, grew
close to the course Of my descent.
was about to look over In search OF
Simpsons body, when l was startled
by noise above me, and turning.
saw Mr.. Percy falling in the track we
had made, and by his side, with even
hundreds Of smaller ones in It's wake
Here was a new and terrible peril
With my companion and the stone both
sweeping down upon me, what chance
had either of us to escape? But as ]
locked l saw the stone swerve to one
side-if 1t did not change it's course
again 1t would pass at least four feet
away from me! Mr.. Percy was coming
straight toward me. l moved back 8
little from the edge, planted myself
firmly and at full length upon the
rock, and with my left arm still lock
myself for the shock.
1t came Immediately. threw Out
my right hand with desperate strength
and clutching at his passing body,
gcasped the collar of his hunting coat
: I stopped him within two feet of the
brink and then we lay there painting
: like two blown stays. The stone hat
: gone over the precipice a safe distanc,
from US.
We soon recovered our senses ant
began search for Simpson. l moved tt
tie edge Of the table rock and looked
over. Here Is what l saw:
Twenty feet below us was a secont
and broader ledge than the one OF
which we were, covered with a sandy
soft-looking earth. Seated on this wal
Simpson, his clothing torn and GOV
: cred with dirt and his face showing
two little streams of blood, which
trickled from wound in his forehead
Ten feet away from him and looking
at him with an air of perfect bewilder
. ment, was a female cougar, while he
three kittens played on the groun'
near the entrance to a cave under tn
ledge. Simpson was as motionless a
marble and sat staring at the cougar a
Exedly as the cougar stared at him.
would be impossible to say which wa
! the more surprised Mt his sudden intru