542 THE FOREST AND THE FIELD. 



thus engaged Karl caught sight of a solitary buck 

 chamois browsing on some herbs between two 

 ridges of rock just below the crest on which we 

 were standing. To slip off my riick-sack and lay 

 down full length, with my head craning over the 

 brink of the scarp, was the work of a few seconds. 

 He was within range, but it was a long shot, so I 

 took off my felt wideawake, and placing it on a 

 boulder of rock, rested my rifle upon it, and, 

 taking a steady aim, fired. " It was too far," ex- 

 claimed Karl ; " but no ; see, he staggers ! " and 

 his face lighted up — for we could see, from his slow, 

 unsteady movements, the buck was badly hit. I felt 

 sure my shot had told, for I was as steady as pos- 

 sible, and I knew from long experience that my 

 rifle was one of the best that was ever turned out 

 by my friend " the worthy Bishop." We had to 

 go along the ridge some distance before we could 

 descend, and then it was ticklish work clambering 

 down the face of the scarp with my long heavy 

 rifle. However, at last we managed it, and had 

 just reached the bottom when a sharp whistle was 



