The Elbert County tribune., 1912-08-02

sheep, when thoroughly scared. travel many
miles, and successfully hide themselves.
Leaving camp at 4:30 one morning. shortly be-
fore dawn, the two hunters and ! had not been
long at work when the Kalmuk pulled up short
but too late. for had been seen first by
flock of nine rams, who were taking their early
feed on the side of steep ravine ON they went
towards higher ground, but in great haste
Riding up to the ridge along which they had dis
appeared. dismounted and soon viewed them
again They some distance OFF, feeding on
an open slope, which appeared to be secure from
attack; but there weak spot After
scanning the herd and noticing three four
good heads among them, started off with Husein
to stalk. A warm job 1t proved up that steep.
loose shale slope. and the pace was perforce
slow AT length made the crest. and took 1t
easy to study the situation The wind. though
light, was shifty but all seemed well. for the
herd were busy feeding. They were what ap-
peared to be about one hundred and fifty yards
of but on slope somewhat below us. The dif.
fculty was to select the finest head, for to raise
ones self more than enough to Just peep over
would have ended matters. Under such cir
cumstances one is always apt to be deceived as
to which head Is going to beat previous records!
The question, however, was brought to an abrupt
conclusion by the herd getting their heads up
and beginning to look suspicious. In another
second they would have been on, So taking a
quick aim. fred at the chest Of what looked like
the largest he stood head towards me. rush
and stampede ensued across the soft face Of
the steep slope below The animals were SO
punched up that 1t was impossible to pick out the
largest. and the result of my three shots was to
bowl over moderate-sized one only. The herd
then disappeared at racing speed. and when next
seen they in the big valley a long way be-
low. We descended and cut up the dead sheep
This finished and the old Kalmuk carrying the
head his shoulders we rode on round the
slopes after the herd. eventually pulling up and
dismounting at the end Of long spur. Here
while on the lookout, suddenly saw the herd
only seven In number, come bolting back
towards u.s. evidently disturbed In their flight
by my fellow sportsman. who Just then appeared
on the top of the mountain. The owes looked
like charging straight at us. but swerved on and
made up the mountain. except one who. over
by fright curiosity forgot his usual cum
ming and stopped to have look at me. heard
the "clor" OF the bullet 1t struck. and he
jumped completely round, then disappeared round
a small spur short distance on Feeling quite
elated at such good fortune, followed up,
pecting to find the sheep lying dead Imagine
my disappointment-he had vanished. There
no time to be lost. SO. starting the Kalmuk on
in pursuit the shoulder of the mountain
Husein and took up the blood tracks Twice
during this latter procee ding / heard the report
of the Kalmuks blunderbuss. and momentarily
expected to see him return smiling; thus, think
ing all right. returned to where the
ponies had been left They also had all three
vanished leaving portions OF the first dead
sleeps carcass scatter ed about the mountain
side. 1t some time before had all col
lected again and the Kalmuk returned. having.
understood, had great chase after the wounded
ram and marked 1t down in a nala. not far from
where had started the days work Loading
up the ponies away went again, searching
frutlessly for long time among the numerous
nalas Things looked bad. 1t was getting late
and were just about to abandon the search
till the morrow. when. good luck would have
It, the old Kalmuk stopped and pointed below as
he did SO. of my pony in second, and
peering over, the fine old ram, only Just able
to stand and looking very sick. about fifty feet
below. One shot in the shoulder finished him.
1t shows the extraordinary vitality of these fine
animals that, though badly wounded, he had been
able to keep going for long. My shot had Just
missed the middle of his chest. and had caught
him near the point Of the right shoulder and
raked along his ribs. His horns measured nifty
inches.