HUNTING CHAMOIS
started off on a hunt on one of these islands. The night was clear and calm such as Pacific nights generally are, and a full moon gave the light. After toiling for many miles to the high ground where the goats are usually found the hunters lay down and slept for two hours. The sea mist meanwhile had crept silently in and covered everything in a mantle of snowy white.
With the first signs of a glorious opal dawn the mist began to roll up like a blanket and go out to sea. Then the hillsides were anxiously scanned by the hunters and before long a splendid wild goat was seen feeding alone on a rocky edge a mile away. In a very few minutes the two hunters were on the trail. It was hot work scrambling over the rocks, for the sun soon gains full strength in those latitudes. Still the goat did not seem to be aware of its danger. You must know that wild goats are very hard to approach. They find out in some mysterious way when they are in danger.
Suddenly however the hunters found themselves confronted by a serious difficulty. They came to the edge of a ravine whose steep sides seemed to to almost unclimbable. The detour could not be made without the goat spying them, but still they had considerably reduced the shooting distance. The goat was still feeding quietly, not having the least idea that enemies were so close. A hasty consultation was held and the two boys agreed not to take any chances but to fire together. They separated about twenty feet and lay down beside some rocks. Both took carefully sights and on the word "three" the rifles rang out like a volley. In front and behind the goat, two spatters of dust flew up, for both shots had missed. In an instant the goat was off, leaping across the rocks in wonderful fashion. In a few minutes it had vanished, leaving behind only the sound of loose stones, which had been started by its flying feet, clattering down into the ravine. Overhead an eagle was screaming angrily at having its silent haunts disturbed. There is nothing very surprising in the fact that the shots missed, for the air in those islands is marvellously clear and the distance of an object is away is very deceiving.
On the way home one boy shot a pretty little fox. They quietly brought it into camp and skinned it. That night there was corn beef hash for supper which was soon gobbled up by the large party and voted first class. But it was not long before someone remembered that there had been no flesh meat in camp, and that they were miles from any place where it could be bought. The chinese cook was sent for, and with many grins and much jabbering he confessed that the corn beef hash was nothing in the world but the little fox. Then everyone said that they had noticed something wrong with the dinner, but nevertheless all had had platesfuls each until the hash had given out.
