Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-03-15

from the ledge on which we stood, and
some ten feet above Il, was q narrower
one, fully sixty feet long, leading In
the right direction. l made a 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
a former avalanche, for 1t stretched
from near the top Of the mountain to
what appeared to be broad ledge 100
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
a 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 l saw brought
ne up with a suddenness that almost
took away my breath. Unaware of our
presence, the game had been approach
ing us, 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
background Of blue sky.
His ci5o Vuoc ri and hn
looking down the mountain, motionless
and beautiful as a statue. Silently
touched Mr.. Percy's arm and pointed to
the goat He stopped instantly and
could see the ardor of the hunter give
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 a scrambling sound and
sharp ejaculation behind us, followed
immediately by a howl of terror. We
turned quickly and saw Simpson whirl. /
ing at a frightful speed down the
mountain side in the old track of the
avalanche, and carrying with him
stream of small rocks and a 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 1 was on my
way to Join the Inflated Simpson.
But I had faced danger too often to
give way to panic. threw out my
hands, but could find nothing, and
vslnly tried to roll myself to one side.
Ny only, safety lay in a chance pro1ec-
ton Of either rock or root on the ledge
below me. l looked anxiously down.
and my heart gave a great jump as l
saw Simpson suddenly disappear over
the ledge. Immediately afterward
found myself hanging partly over the
ledge, with my left arm locked around
thu root of a pine tree, which grew
close to the course Of my descent.
! was about to look over In search Of
Simpsons body, when l was startled
~ noise above me, and turning. l
Jaw Mr.. Percy falling in the track we
had made, and by his side, with even
)ace, great, dat stone that brought
hundreds of smaller ones in its wake.
Here was a new and terrible perIlI
With my companion and the stone both
down upon me, what chance
lad either of us to escape2 But as l
ooked l saw the stone swerve to one
1t did not change it's course
gain 1t would pass at least four feet
way from me! Mr.. Percy was coming
traight toward me. / moved back a
title from the edge, planted myself
lrnly and at full length upon the
ock, and with my left arm still lock.
ID around the pine tree root, | braeed
myself for the shock.
1t came Immediately. l threw out
ny right hand with desperate strength
nd clutching at his passing body,
casped the collar OF hts hunting coat
stopped him within tive feet Of the
rink and then we lay there painting .
inc wv bAOWA SJdBSs 1uo BDOQG lad
one over the precipice a safe distance
rom US.
We soon recovered our senses and
egan search for Simpson. moved to
lie edge Of the table rock and looked +.
yer. Here is what saw:
Twenty feet below us was a second =
nd broader ledge than the one on
rhich we were, covered with a sandy.
earth. Seated on this was
lnpson, his clothing torn and GOV.
red with dirt and his face showing c
NO little streams of blood. which q
rickled from a wound In his forehead 4
EN- feet away from him and looking
him with an air Of perfect bewilder- /
lent, was a female cougar, while her b
hreo kittens played on the ground b
ear the entrance to a cave under the Z
sdge. Simpson was as motionless as
lArble and sat staring at the cougar as
kelly as the cougar stared at him. II
.ould be Impossible to say which was
he more surprised at his sudden lntru-
on upon the family scene, the man or
ne beast.
whether the cougar was so unset nv Il