Gale forgot he had a rifle. The Yaqui pressed a heavy hand
down upon his shoulder. He was to keep well hidden and to be quiet.
Gale suddenly conceived the idea that the sheep might come clear
across to investigate the puzzling red thing fluttering in the
breeze. Strange, indeed, would that be for the wildest creatures
in the world.
The big ram led on with the same regular persistence, and in half an
hour's time he was in the bottom of the great gulf, and soon he was
facing up the slope. Gale knew then that the alluring scarf had
fascinated him. It was no longer necessary now for Gale to use his
glass. There was a short period when an intervening crest of lava
hid the sheep from view. After that the two rams and their smaller
followers were plainly in sight for perhaps a quarter of an hour.
Then they disappeared behind another ridge. Gale kept watching sure
they would come out farther on. A tense period of waiting passed,
then a suddenly electrifying pressure of Yaqui's hand made Gale
tremble with excitement.
Very cautiously he shifted his position. There, not fifty feet
distant upon a high mound of lava, stood the leader of the sheep.
His size astounded Gale. He seemed all horns. But only for a
moment did the impression of horns overbalancing body remain with
Gale. The sheep was graceful, sinewy, slender, powerfully built,
and in poise magnificent. As Gale watched, spellbound, the second
ram leaped lightly upon the mound, and presently the three others
did likewise.
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