TO THE MOUNTAINS 



I believe that pony had a sense of humour, and was 

 playing practical jokes on me ! 



It was five o'clock and the light was fading when 

 we reached " home." A little two-storied wooden 

 hut, standing on a grassy meadow at the head of the 

 Zillergrund, as the valley up which we had come is 

 called ; a sitting-room fifteen feet square, a small 

 kitchen, and three smaller bedrooms such were 

 our quarters. Three or four more log-huts stood 

 near it deserted for the winter, however, for the 

 peasants had long before driven their cattle down to 

 the main valley. On either hand of the hut a fresh 

 valley opened out ; behind it rose a solid wall of 

 mountain ; whilst fifty yards below our little habita- 

 tion flowed the river. 



"The Baron" and I shared the same room. It 

 was small very the two beds took up most of it ; 

 but we both were just able to dress in the remaining 

 space at the same time ! It would not have done 

 to have talked secrets in that hut one could hear 

 every word spoken, in whatever room, all over the 

 house ! 



Six o'clock dinner and a smoke afterwards, and 

 then the keepers came in to discuss the plans for 

 the morrow's drive. 



There were three of them two, giants of over 

 six feet high, handsome stalwart men, and truly 

 picturesque in their grey frieze jackets, short leather 



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