Gilpin observer., 1912-08-01

sheep, when thoroughly scared, travel many
miles, and successfully hide themselves.
Leaving camp at 1870 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 a
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 of. feeding on
open SLOPE which appeared to be secure from
attack; but there weak spot After
scanning the herd and noticing three or four
good heads among them. started of with Husein
to stalk. A warm job 1t proved, up that steep.
loose shale slope. and the pace was perforce
slow. At length We made the crest, and took It
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 slope somewhat below US. The dit'
ficulty 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 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
quick aim, fred at the chest Of what looked Ike
the largest, as he stood head towards me. A rush
and a 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 a moderate-sized 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 his shoulders, We rode on round the
slopes after the herd eventually pulling up and
dismounting at the end Of a long spur. Here.
while on the lookout, We suddenly saw the herd.
now only seven in number. come bolting back
towards us. 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 ana
made up the mountain, except one, who over
come by fright curiosity. forgot his usual cum
ming and stopped to have a look at me- heard
the "clop" of the bullet as 1t struck. and he
jumped completely round then disappeared round
a small spur a short distance OF Feeling quite
eated at such good fortune. followed up.
pecting to find the sheep lying dead. Imagine
my disappointment-he had vanished. There was
time to be lost. SO. starting the Kalmuk on
In pursuit over 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 bunderbuss. 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 nrst dead
sleeps carcass scatter ed about the mountain
side. It was some time before we had all col
lected again and the Kamuk returned. having.
understood. had great chase after the wounded
ram and marked II down In nala not far from
where we had started the days work Loading
up the ponies. away We went again. searching
fruitessly for a long time among the numerous
Mains Things looked bad II getting late.
and were just about to abandon the search
till the morrow. when. as good luck would have
It. the old Kalmuk stopped and pointed below
he did SO. was of my pony in a second. and.
peering over. the fine old RAM only Just able
q atand md looking very sick about dfty 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 the point Of the right shoulder and
ransd along his ribs. His horns measured nifty
inches.