lso populated by brigands and the two do not form
an agreeable combination from the sportsman's standpoint.

In reality they are perfectly nice, well-behaved brigands, but
occasionally they forget their manners and swoop down upon the
caravan road less than a dozen miles away. This is done only when
scouts bring word that cargo valuable enough to make it worth while
is about to pass. Each time the brigands make a foray a return raid
by Chinese soldiers can be expected. Occasionally these are real,
"honest-to-goodness" fights, and blood may flow on both sides, but
the battle sometimes takes a different form.

With bugles blowing, the soldiers march out to the hills. Through
"middle men" the battle ground has been agreed upon, and a "David"
is chosen from the soldiers to meet the "Goliath" of the brigands.
But David is particularly careful to leave his gun behind, and to
have his "sling" well stuffed with rifle shells. Goliath advances to
the combat armed only with a bag of silver dollars. Then an even
trade ensues--a dollar for a cartridge--and the implement of war
changes hands.

[Illustration: Cave Dwellings in North Shansi Province]

[Illustration: An Asiatic Wapiti]

[Illustration: Harry R. Caldwell and a Mongolian Bighorn]

The soldiers return to the city with bugles sounding as merrily as
when they left. The commander sends a report to Peking of a
desperate battle with the brigands. He says that, through the
extreme valor of his soldiers, the bandits have been dispersed and
many killed; that hundreds of cartridges were expended in the fight;
therefore, kindly send more as soon as possible.

All this because the government has an unfortunate way of forgetting
to pay its soldiers in the outlying provinces. When no money is
forthcoming and none is visible on the horizon, it is not surprising
that they take other means to obtain it. "Battles" of this type are
by no means exceptions--they are more nearly the rule in many
provinces of China.

But what has all this to do with the wild sheep? Its relation is
very intimate, for the presence of brigands in those Shansi
mountains has made it possible for the animals to exist, The hunting
grounds are only five days' travel from Peking and many foreigners
have turned longing eyes toward the mountains. But the brigands
always had to be considered. Since Sir Richard Dane, formerly Chief
Inspector of the Salt Gabelle, and Mr. Charles Coltman were driven
out by the bandi