X Chamois- Hivnting 495 



On the narrow patch of turf between the village 

 and the torrent I found, it being a fine Sunday 

 afternoon, much mirth and conviviality. The rifle- 

 butts were pitched on the opposite side of the 

 torrent, with a small hut close to them to shelter 

 the marker, a fellow of infinite fun, attired in bright 

 scarlet and a fantastic cap, who placed marked pegs 

 into the bullet-holes, and pantomimed with insane 

 gestures of admiration, contempt, astonishment, or 

 derision, the good or bad success of the marksmen. 

 And splendid specimens of men they were : firm, 

 proud, yet courteous and gentle, well dressed in their 

 handsome and handy costume, strong as lions, which, 

 in fact, they ' needed to be ' to support the weight of 

 those young eighteen -pounders which they called 

 rifles, with brass enough in the stocks to manufac- 

 ture faces for a dynasty of railroad -kings. Never 

 did I see finer fellows. And the women ! How 

 lovely are those Tyrolese damsels, with their dark 

 brown glossy hair braided under the green hat, with 

 a brilliant carnation stuck over their left ear in a 

 pretty coquettish fashion, enough to send an un- 

 fortunate bachelor raving. And their complexions ! 

 the very flower in their hair looking dull beside their 

 blooming cheeks ; and their clear, soft, hazel eyes, 

 with such a soul of kindness, gentleness, and purity 

 peeping through them, as one scarcely sees even in 

 one and another elsewhere. 



The shooting was at last over, the winner crowned 

 with flowers, and, the targets borne in triumph before 



