MY FIRST CHAMOIS 



"Buck!" whispers Wechselberger. 



So this is a chamois! It is the first I have ever 

 seen, except in picture-books ! 



" Shoot the next time he stands," is the command 

 of my faithful trdger. 



Curiously enough I feel perfectly cool and quiet ! 

 My rifle is already cocked, and I bring it slowly up 

 to my shoulder, rest my elbows on my knees, so as 

 to secure a perfectly steady shot, and wait. 



He has stopped, but behind a tree, and it is im- 

 possible to fire. 



Now he is moving on. 



There ! He has stopped again, and in an open 

 place. He is close to one of my landmarks, so I 

 know the distance to be about 120 yards, and 

 he presents me his full broadside. 



" Crack " goes my little '360 express, and through 

 the smoke I see the chamois flinch to the shot. 

 Evidently he is hit far back, for he draws himself 

 together with his back arched and then goes slowly 

 forward with feeble tottering steps. He turns and 

 stands, and I fire a second time at his chest as he 

 faces me. This time I have a vision of four legs in 

 the air, and the truth dawns upon me that I have 

 killed my first chamois ! 



But there is little time for self-congratulation, for a 

 big black bounding object comes down the slope 

 with the speed of a cannon-ball. 



177 



