The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1912-08-01

sheep when thoroughly scared travel many
miles, and successfully hide themselves.
Leaving camp at 430 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 we 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 no great haste.
Riding up to the ridge along which they had dis
appeared, we dismounted, and soon viewed them
again. They were some distance off, feeding on
an open slope, which appeared to be secure from
attack; but there was one weak spot. After
scanning the herd and noticing three or four
good heads among them, started off with Husein
to stalk. A job it proved, up that steep
loose shale slope, and the pace was pertorce
SLOW At length We 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 what ap
neared to be about one hundred and fifty yards
off but on a slope somewhat below us. The diff
ficuty was to select the finest head, for to raise
ones self more than enough to just peep over
would have soon ended matters. Under such cir
cumstances 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 of, so, taking
quick aim l fired at the chest of what looked like
the largest as he stood head towards me rush
and a stampede ensued across the soft face OF
the steep slope below us. The animals were SO
punched I'D that it was impossible to pick out the
largest, and the result of my three shots was to
bowl over moderate-sizeds one only. The herd
then disappeared at racing speed, and when next
seen they were in the big valley long way be-
low. We descended and cut up the dead sheep
This finished, and the old Kalmuk carrying the
head over his shoulders, We rode off round the
slopes after the herd, eventually pulling up and
dsmounting at the end of a long spur. Here,
while on the lookout, We suddenly saw the herd.
now only seven in number. come boting 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 of and
made up the mountain, except one, who, over
come by fright curiosity, forgot his usual cum
ming and stopped to have look at me. l heard
the "clop" of the bullet it struck, and he
jumped completely round, then disappeared round
a small spur short distance Of Feeling quite
elated at such good fortune, l followed up ex-
pecting to find the sheep lying dead. Imagine
my disappointment-he had vanished There was
no time to be lost So starting the Kalmuk on
in pursuit the shoulder Of the mountain.
Husen and took up the blood tracks. Twice
during this latter procee ding heard the report
Of the Kamuk's blunderbuss, and momentarily
expected to see him return smiling; thus, think
ing all right, we 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 we had all col
lected again and the Kalmuk returned, having, l
understood, had great chase after the wounded
ram and marked it down in a nala. not far from
where we had started the days work. Loading
up tae ponies, away We went again, searching
fruitlessly for a long time among the numerous
nalas Things looked bad. 1t was getting late,
and we were just about to abandon the search
till the morrow when, as good luck would have
it, the old Kalmuk stopped and pointed below as
he did so. I was off my pony in second, and,
peering over saw the fine old ram, only just able
to stand and looking very sick, about fifty feet
below. One shot in the shoulder finished him.
It shows the extraordinary vitality of these fine
animals that though badly wounded, he had been
able to keep going for so 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 fifty
inches.