ON PLAIN AND PEAK 



we had come the preceding afternoon, brought us to 

 the point where we struck up the mountain side. 

 Salchner, the tall dark handsome keeper, led, with 

 his slow easy stride, never changing or altering the 

 regular pace of all the Tyrolese when going up-hill. 

 It was quite fast enough for me, however ; there is 

 nothing that tries the wind and condition more than 

 mountain climbing ! 



Something over an hour brought us to the lowest 

 "stand," which was designated to me. It consisted 

 of a pile of stones, covered with a layer of fir- 

 branches, for a seat ; whilst the rock, against which 

 they were placed, provided a rest for one's back. 

 The trunk of a fir-tree, with some stones and 

 branches, partially screened one in front. 



Here I settled myself comfortably with my 

 trager as the man who carries one's rucksack, rifle, 

 etc., is called beside me. The rucksack is a bag, 

 with two leather straps through which the arms are 

 passed, and which will hold anything from a defunct 

 chamois downwards. In this case it held a waist- 

 coat, a woollen " sweater," and my warm Tyrolese 

 mantle all of which I put on, for it is none too 

 warm sitting on the breezy mountain side and our 

 lunch. A bit of wurst (or sausage) and a hunch of 

 black bread, with some red wine, and a nip of some- 

 thing stronger afterwards to keep the cold out ; and 

 then we compose ourselves for a long wait, for the 



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