48 A BIGHORN STALK IN THE ROCKIES

my nerves recovered. Then I gradually worked myself
into a position where I could let go with one hand so as to
loosen the cord holding the meat.

‘““ Watch out, Jack,” I said, “‘ this infernal meat nearly
pulled me off, and I am going to let it go.”

“Do not be a bally fool,” he replied, ‘“‘ I want fresh
meat for supper and am going to have it if I can. Untie
one end of the cord and pass it down to me. We can
make it easily from where I am by edging off to the
right.”

For a few minutes we argued about it, but eventually,
having quite recovered from my fright, I gave in, and he
took the meat and also the lead. By that time my only
wish was that we were somewhere in a safe place where
there was wood for a fire, if we could only get down again.
But while we might yet have got down in safety Jack was
sure we could get up, and we made another start.

Our new course took us along a narrow ledge, which,
though it led upwards, continually forced us so much off
to the right that all we gained was nearly lost, because
the top was also rising in the same direction. Higher and
higher we went until we had passed the level from where
we had first spotted the sheep, but always some impossible
place prevented us working back over to the left. Before
long we began to get tired, as we could not let go with our
hands and take any sort of a comfortable rest. At last
we came to a place where the ledge we were on narrowed
off and appeared to end a short way ahead. Above us
was smooth perpendicular wall, the only obstacle between
us and safety, but an unsurmountable obstacle. Our
position now seemed hopeless. It was rapidly getting
dark, and by that time neither of us had sufficient nerve .
left to climb down again with any chance of reaching the
bottom alive. But something had to be done, and done
soon. Now, at this time I was the one to be ten feet
below, and from my position it did not appear so certain
that the ledge broke off. Therefore, as I was able to
pass farther to the right without going up to Jack’s level,
I did so for a few feet. Then, clambering up to the ledge,