ohn. "They're too far off to shoot."

"Wait," said Alex; "they're going to come on down the trail. I think
they water at some spring in the mountain, although I don't know. In
fifteen or twenty minutes they'll be pretty close to us--inside of two
hundred yards, at least, I should think.

"Now listen," he continued to the boys, "and mind what I tell you.
There are two rams there, and if we get them we need nothing more.
I'll not shoot unless I need to. Rob, you'll take the ram which is
farthest to the right, at the time I tell you to fire, and you, Mr.
John, will take the other ram, no matter whether it's the big one or
the little one. Let the ewes alone. And whatever you do, don't shoot
into the flock--wait until each of you can see his animal ready for a
distinct shot. If either of you misses, I'll help him out--there's
three or four hundred yards of good shooting all up that mountain
face. Now mind one thing; don't have any buck fever here! None of
that, do you hear me?"

Alex spoke rather sternly this time, but it was with a purpose. He saw
that the hands of both the boys were rather trembling, and knew that
sometimes when a man is in that nervous condition a sharp word will
have the effect of quieting and steadying him.

Rob looked at him quickly, and then smiled. "Oh, I see," said he.

They were all talking in low whispers, so that they might not be
overheard by the game, if it should come closer. "It's no disgrace to
have buck fever," said Alex, in his low tone. "Injuns even get
excited, and I've known old hunters to get buck fever right in the
middle of a hunt, without any reason they could tell anything about.
But now, when you're steady enough, we'll all crawl up once in a while
and have a look."

He kept a steadying hand on both the boys when a few minutes later
they approached the rim of the ridge once more. By this time the
sheep, which had not in the least taken alarm, were advancing rather
steadily down the narrow path on the steep mountain face. The biggest
ram was in advance, a stately and beautiful game creature, such as
would have made a prize for the most experienced of hunters. It was
all Rob could do to keep from an exclamation of delight at seeing
these rather queer creatures so close at hand and unsuspicious of the
hunters' presence.

Alex pulled them down once more, and sternly admonished them to be
quiet. "Wait now," he whispered, "one minute by the watch."

When the minute, which seem