The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-03-21

without alarming IT, A short disIahes
from the ledge ON which we stood ana
some ten feet above IL. was narrower
Que. fully slxty feet long, leading 10
tLs right direction. | made loop Oh
the rope Simpson carried and seon las
coed stout little pine that sfood bear
the end of the upper ledge. and VIC
had little trouble In pulling ourselves
up Moving cautiously along our n~~
route, we soon reached the point where
we had seen what seemed TO Do al
easier ascent. and we were not mss
taken. Ii was evidently the track OF
former avalanche. for II stretched
| from near the top Of the mountain 70
what appeared to be- broad ledse iuo
| feet below us; and while the ground
was not by any means smooth, II was
free from the larger rocks thss
abounded In other places.
The incline was steep. but gave pref
ty good footing. and with our rides al
ready we began the ascent when
we had gone about tifty feet happened
to look In the direction where the goat
ought 10 be and wnat | saw brought
ne up with suddenness that simosx
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. be stood with
bis white. graceful form and bis ebony
like horns. clearly outlined against q
background OF blue sky.
Hls side was toward us and he was
looking down the mountain. mosioniess
and beautiful as a statue. Silently !
touched Mr. Perey's arm and pointed 20
the goat. He stopped instantly and !
could see the arstor OF the hunter give
way to admiration tn his face as be To-
voluntarily raised bis gun
The report rang out and the goat
springing UP Into the air. fell back up
on the rock dead AT the same momens
there was q scramDling sound and .
sharp ejaculation behind IA. followed
Immediately BY howi OF terror. Va
turned quickly and saw Simpson whiTE
lrg at a frixhtfnl speed down th~
mountain slde In the old traek % the
avalanche. and carrying wtth allan a
ss-eam OF small rocks and a esoua Of
dns< The man rolled over and over
la his descent and was apparently 60
ing 70 certain death
obsyinx my frst impulse. started
sfs<r him. when frod upon . snsocss
rocx. over which there wns thin Layer
~ sand my feet slipped frpm und~v
ne. and the next tnlnuts I was 90 sny
wsy 60 Join the Inflated ssrr~onA
But I bad faced danger teo osr~n TO
rive way To panic. fhrww cot ny
nsnda bat could rnd nothing. and
rssniy tried to roll nys~lr 10 one aide.
VIZ only safety Lay Ia chance pro,~~-
ton OF either rock OF root GA the Ledge
'~sow TOE. looked anxiousiy down
mi my heart give xreas jump a. /
NV Simpson suddenly disappear ovws
~ ledge. Immediately sfterward 4
ound myself hanging partly ovwr ths
edge. with my left arm locked around
h root Of pins tree which xr~w
sos~ to the course OF my descent
was about % hook ovsv to sesrra q
smr~on's body. wb~n wsx stxrsssa
y . noise shove me. and suYusnx
Az MIR. Percy falling In shs tr.~s -
ID made. and By bis sssA With sv~s
ace. . great nag ssoue that Dro~rS4 .
npdrsds of smaller ores in les vskA .
lers vas q new and terrible p&~ffl !
nth my companion ard the sssos hosn ,
Keeping down upoa ms. what chance
~ either OF us to escaped Bus -
.cked I saw the stone swevvs u sss !
def IA did not change III eourss
Eafn II would pass Mt lesss fcur Tea
vsy from mel Mr.. Percy was eoxains
might toward the. usov~d bseA
lsts from tbs edge. pssnted ny~>if
-mly and Ut full length upon tss
ck. and With my Iefs srsn sill laSs+
around the pine tres rood. b<srsA :
yssh for the shock
II came immediately. sarww CT =.
r right hand wIth desperate strength :
q eEusehing At his passing body, 1
ssp<d fb~ collar OF his hunting cnsx :
stopred him within two feet Of ths !.
ink and th@n ~ lay th~rs panuns =
e two blown staxA Ths sepns bad
~ over ths prccipIcs q safe distance :
nm ux.
We soon recovered our senses ana
gan search for simpson. moved TO
! edge Of the table rock and looked :. -
er. Here Ia what saw: =,
twenty feet below us was second "a
q 4 broader ledge than the ons ou 70
Itch we we're. covered with a sandy. ~
t-looking earth. Seated on this was V"
npson. hts clothing torn and cor.
q with dirt and bis face showing ci'
. little streams OF blood. which Nv
killed. from wound In his forehead. VI
4 feet away from him and booking
him with an air of perfect bewllder. ".
ut, was 4 female cougar. whIle her OH
- kittens played on the ground M
r the entrance to a cave under thu w
xe- Simpson was as motioniess A.
rble and sat staring at the cougar ~
'dly ~ the cougar stared at him. IN -.
nd be impossible TO say which was