The San Francisco call., 1910-05-29

visible: again. he would break through
with his forefeet and fall with his muz-
zle in the snow, only his hindquarters
showing above the crust. At times ne
would be down fore and aft, disappear
ing entirely from sight. only the sound
Of his mighty limbs as they churnod the
soft snow telling the story OF his
struggle.
His agility was wonderful. Time and
again we saw his rear hoOfs drawn as
far forward as high as his shoulders in
an effort to gain an even footing, and
when the hold OF his hind legs was lost
he would reach out and bury his fore
hoofs and nose in the sinking crust and,
arching his back, try to drag his body
up to them.
AS we pulled up close behind him he
wallowed into the shadow OF some tall
pines, where the crust. unexposed to
the sun, was firm and hard He strug-
gled to the surface. tottered across the
shadowed space and began breaking
through on the farther side. He tried
new place. but only to break through
again with all fours, and then, all his
former courage seeming to return with
a rush, he staggered back against a
tree, lowered his head, and with shrill
trumpet Of defiance dared Us to come
on.
This was what we had hoped for.
Circling on the soft snow. well beyond
snaps before we left him to return to
his family and account for hia deser-
ton as best he might. The grating OF
his teeth as he ground them together
In impotent fury followed US for some
distance as we slipped away from the
coulee through the timber on one OF
Hopes short cuts to the winter bar
racks on Lake Yellowstone.
Our chase Of the mountain sheep.
which took place three days later on
the Gardiner river. was brought to a
sudden termination by what came so
near to proving a serious accident to
our quarry that 1t quite destroyed our
zest for the sport and made us regret
fully decide to give it over for all time.
We had located with our glasses a fine
flock OF the beautiful animals several
hundred yards below our lookout on
Gardiner mountain. Hope set Off along
the ridge to the windward OF them,
holding their attention so successfully
in that direction that I was able to
coast from the leeward side and bring
up almost In their midst before one OF
them knew what had happened. I had
time for one hurried snap before they
were Off, and another when a ticklish
quarter mile coast brought me up al
most on the heels OF the vanguard OF
the flying flock.
Down a couple Of hundred yards OF
easy slope I held even with the tail
other picture when they came out
upon a stretch of almost level bench
above the river and began to beat me
three to one The leaders had almost
reached the shelter Of the timber
when Hope. brandishing his pole and
whooping like a wild Indian. dropped
like a thunderbolt from somewhere
among the snowy cliffs above and
turned them back. The sudden ap-
pearance OF new enemy sent slim-
mering such wits as the leaders still
had. and after giancing irresoluteIy to
where 1 came laboring down from the
rear, they turned and went plunging
over the rim of the bench on the thin
crust of snow and ice that bridged the
swift flowing stream, the whole flock
following in their wake
Hope. wild eyed with CONSERVATION,
was already peering over the edge OF
the cliff as came up. and together we
watched the flock pull of for the
farther bank. The crust where the
flock landed was sufficiently strong to
stand its impact. but that toward the
middle OF the river, worn thin by the
spring thaw, sagged ominously under
the leaders. began cracking under the
weight of the main body and broke
through Just as the vanguard was
scrambling clear. Fortunately. all
were on good footing when the cavein
occurred and none was lost.
With long breaths OF relief we
turned and frightened up the thongs OF
our ski for the climb out of the can
yon. and it was not until half an hour
later, when we paused for rest on the
mesa rim. that Hopes drawing voice
broke the silence that had held be-
tween us.
Young feller." he said jerkedly be-
tween breaths, "if that crust had bust
five seconds sooner down thar. the best
thing you and me cud er done was ter
jump In and drowned with them pore
sheep. Even as It's, ff the super gets
wind OF this mornin's doin's. it's me fer
a new job and you fer over the border"
But neither party to the affair was
disposed to do much talking about IL at
the time. the story never reached the
ears OF the superintendent: and now II
doesn't matter. at least as far as Hopes
Job is concerned. Two weeks ago re-
ceived a letter from the park game
warden telling me that the reckless
fellow had broken his pole while coast
ing at the rate OF a mile or more a
minute down the winding road into the
Grand canyon. and as a result had shot
off into the abyss at the foot OF the
falls The body was not recovered until
two days later. but as the drop must
have been IN the vicinity OF 800 feet In
the sheer, there is no doubt that death
was instantaneous.