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,