Bighorn

Little Ram ran along the mountain slope and jumped high in the air. The other bighorn lambs skipped after him in a wild game of “follow-the-leader.” Little Ram liked to be the leader. He was especially proud of his new horn nubs. When he butted his head at the other lambs, they backed off. Mother sheep just nibbled grass and walked higher up the hill. Little Ram tossed his head and strutted. Then he had to run and catch up—Mother bighorn was leading the herd up a steep slope.

Little Ram grew stronger and bigger. He could climb higher and run faster than all the others now. Even Mother moved over when he pressed his growing horns into her side. He was learning about trouble, too. One day a coyote surprised him when he was eating at the base of a cliff. The rest of the herd climbed up the rocks to safety, but Little Ram was in danger. He raced up a rocky slope with the coyote close behind. Only by quickly darting around a rock and leaping across a crevice did he escape. After that he kept an eye out for danger and ate on the higher slopes.

With the cold winds of fall, more bighorn sheep began joining the herd. Many of them were bigger than Mother, with great curving horns that crowned their heads. Little Ram watched as they stood on their hind legs and challenged each other. In a moment their great horns would clang together. It was exciting to see which would win and be the champion. Little Ram stepped up to one of his playmates and lowered his head. The other young ram took up the challenge and soon they were both standing and crashing together. Little Ram’s head swelled with pride as he butted off each of the other young rams. Then he leapt onto a rock to watch the big rams battling again.

One great ram, called Bighorn, kept apart from the others. His horns curved into a perfect circle and he stood at the top of the meadow with Mother and a few others. Little Ram ran up the hill to join them. When he skipped up the ridge, the younger sheep moved out of his way. Little Ram felt quite strong and wonderful. He tossed his horns at Mother and then nodded his head toward Bighorn.

The next moment Little Ram was flipped over backward on the rocky hillside. As he scrambled to his feet, he looked up to see the great ram standing above him. His head was held high and he stared off far across the meadow. Little Ram backed away, shaking his ears in surprise. All the foolish pride had been knocked out of him and he soon settled down to eating grass.

Little Ram kept a respectful distance from Bighorn after that. The force of those mighty horns still filled him with awe. All his little battles were but lamb-play compared to the strength of the mighty Bighorn. He stopped nibbling to watch as another ram came up the slope. His curling horns were almost as long as Bighorn’s, but his body wasn’t so thick and strong. The great sheep turned to face the challenger, but he did not move as the smaller ram backed up for the charge. Little Ram’s heart beat faster as the challenger plunged forward. But Bighorn simply lifted himself upon his hind legs and came down with a mighty crash. The next moment Bighorn raised his nose and the other ram turned to go. As simple as that, the matter was settled. Bighorn was the victor and the sheep went back to grazing on the steep slope. Little Ram sighed in satisfaction.

Snow began falling on the mountains and the bighorn sheep were kept busy finding cleared patches to eat. Little Ram was still growing and he always felt hungry. But he had learned a lesson from the great Bighorn. Instead of shoving for the best grass or tossing his horns at the other sheep, the young ram kept to himself. He used his strength to climb up steep crevices and get the tasty patches that the others couldn’t reach.

One afternoon he scrambled over some boulders and found Bighorn on a rocky ledge. The great ram stood like a king overlooking the valley below, and Little Ram knew better than disturb him. He jumped down to nibble a tuft of grass between two rocks. Suddenly he heard Bighorn stomp his foot sharply. Every sheep in the herd came to attention, and in a moment they were scrambling up the steep bank. Little Ram got a glimpse of a gray shape dashing along the rocks as he scrambled after Bighorn. A coyote! The great ram had already reached the end of the ledge and was springing across a crevice to another rocky slope. It took all Little Ram’s strength to leap after Bighorn, and he was panting when he reached the crest. But they weren’t out of danger yet.

As he joined Bighorn, a second gray form appeared around a rock. In panic, Little Ram sprang backward and almost slipped down the bank. As he scrambled to get his footing, the coyote darted toward him. Suddenly Bighorn stepped between them and lowered his head. The coyote stopped in surprise. Never had a sheep challenged him before! Little Ram froze in terror, but the great sheep did not move. The hungry coyote made a dash forward and Bighorn tossed his great horns. He caught his enemy squarely in the shoulder. With a yelp the coyote tumbled down the rocky slope and out of sight.

Bighorn raised his head to the sky, and then looked calmly down at Little Ram, as if to say, “didn’t you know that I would defend you?” His great curling horns seemed like a golden crown in the evening sunlight. The younger ram stepped forward and tipped his head in humble gratitude.

As he followed Bighorn up the mountainside, Little Ram knew that he’d found his champion. Bighorn was to be respected as a mighty warrior. But he was also to be trusted as a faithful friend.