Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1920-12-23

land and decided on the best range.
They were about two miles away
and one half Of It was up. We start
ed our long hard climb with our
hearts pounding with hard work and
excitement. Would we reach the
friendly rock and would they be
there when we reached itf
After 2 hours OF hard climbing, al.
ways up, up. we reached the place
and waited a few minutes for our
nerves to get settled before looking
over, yes they were there but three
hundred yards away and at bilrs
command we opened up. Bilr missed
his first shot. but finally broke a
front leg on the run. l knocked
mine down the FIRST shot. but he got
up and they went up the mountain
side spured on by the music OF our
artillery, but we failed to score
again and they both went out. Our
hearts sank within us. Most OF the
shooting was on the run and at long
distance in a strong wind" was the
alibi. We studied the situation and
I decided to go around over the top,
but Bill said "no more climbing"
for him that day---that he would get
Edwin after him next day, that he
was too badly wounded to go Tar
and by next day would be stin and
It would be better plan than giving
chase ut that time. I started the
long hard climb determined to see
what had become OF them.
Sight Of Big Game
When / got on rop and used the
glass, / saw goats back as he
moved along near the top on dis
tant peak. Well this was more good
luck but Matteson was too far down
TO call back. so went after them
alone. AS the snow was blowing
got very close to them before they
saw me and shot them both dead,
at two shots In quick succession. But
Il goat seems to have the same In
stinct as a prairie dog, as they both
jumped Off the cliff with their last
breath, and down they rolled to an
other cliff drop Of two hundred
feet to the rocks below. Then some
more rolling and looked around for
n place to get down but no chance.
Looked the ground over and 1t look
ed to me that by starting on difer-
ent bench we could get to them next
day, so hurried on down to where
the sheep had gone over. Found the
nf oh |
ing freely and l could follow 1t cas-
lily though the tracks were blown
full of snow. | followed 1t to where
he had gone over the cliff, where
men dare not follow and had to give
him up. Then went little farther
down and found the trail of mine,
but not SO much blood. Trailed him
4 short distance when he got up
and started off but pill from the
little 25 did the business and he
started to roll but more down the
way he had come up. stood and
istened awhile to the rocks rolling
md decided he had gone to the bot
ON and took an easier route down
o the timber line, but no sheep In
light. In looking lp saw an object
vay up near the top. BY using the
lass saw 1t was my dead sheep ,
With a horn caught on rock. I
Heartbreaking limbs /
Well, this meant another heart =
reaking climb back the way had i
ONE down, but in an hour was to
i'm and nothing to do but kick a
i'm off down a small gulch filled b
18th small loose rocks. Down he -
rent three hundred feet and stopped a
gain. How was I to get to him? h
oon decided to try the slide--same is
yay he had gone down, so holding
~ rifle in one hand made the start. 7
'own I went with ton of loose
ock following. Kicked the sheep G
,ose and away we went another
wo hundred feet and stopped. Took
hasty inventory, found the sheep 6
ad one horn broken and little skin il
fl, and no time to lose as the sun Il
ras going out Of sight. Grabbed &
i'm by horn and dragged him to t
gulch filled with snow that run 6
own TO ClmDer llHe, OuI SoMC Ao"
ot tangled up with him and down r
We went in a good race for the bot t
ON. Stopped at the timber line. r
he balance was easy-just enough c
now to drag easy down the grade. Q
When I got within 80 rods Of the
,ottom and saw Bill coming up to
lelp me, he having waited all this /
ime in the cold when / supposed s
70 had gone to camp. We got him I
lown on the trail and dressed him I
tut in short order. He proved to be {
/ very nice young sheep and very
at but not as large horns as was
ooking for. Took up the trail for
amp. feeling sure 1t was only mat
,er Of time until we would overtake
Bills ram on tomorrow.
Oct. 1.-THE horses had strayed
md we decided that Ray, Bill and I
would go up and look for Bilfs
'heep and get my goats to the trail,
while Edwin would look up the
lorses and bring the pack saddles up S