the tired boys were thrilled to the core when Toby
finally announced that he had had a glimpse of the game. Of course
they became wildly excited, and demanded that he show them. Creeping
carefully up to a certain outcropping rock, they peered around its
edge. And for the first time in their lives Davy, Step Hen and Smithy
found themselves looking upon the queer animals that seem to live in
the wildest parts of the Rockies, taking delight in bounding from
crag to crag, and baffling the skill of the most experienced chamois
hunters to get within gun-shot of their lofty eyries.

There were seven or eight of the sheep, and as they were really just
within gun range the boys could get a splendid view of them. They
admired the tremendous curved horns greatly, and Step Hen quivered
with eagerness to say that he had shot a Rocky Mountain sheep all by
himself; while Davy clicked his camera several times, so that he at
least might have a picture, in case they could get no nearer.

"I can't be sure of even hitting one from here," whispered Step Hen,
turning appealingly to the guide. "Ain't it possible to creep up
closer, Toby? Oh! please fix it for us, won't you?" just as though the
guide had it in his power to do anything they wanted.

But fortunately the lay of the mountain allowed Toby to arrange it;
and he soon mapped out a route that they might crawl along, keeping
well hidden from the feeding sheep, and getting gradually closer.

Besides, it happened that luck was working overtime in their favor;
because the animals happened to be feeding toward them. Now only two
or three could be seen, nibbling at the tufts of grass, or leaping
across some small fissure that tried to block them from other tempting
pastures; and then again the whole seven would be in sight at the
same moment.

After advancing slowly and carefully for some time Toby made motions
that they dare not go any further. He also let them know by signs
that, as the sheep were still coming in a line toward them, all they
had to do was to lie quiet, and wait until the right moment.

That was a period of great excitement to the scouts, two of them
clutching their guns in hands that would tremble in spite of them;
while the third was trying to find the best spot to hold his kodak,
with a view of snapping off a picture just before the critical second
came for shooting.

Step Hen and Smithy had even gone so far as to select which of the
seven sheep they hoped to ge