I 9 4 SIR VICTOR BROOKE CHAP. 



had joined us from his post we started along the 

 cornices above the " rocks," or rather the top cornice 

 of the rocks. I had never been along here before and 

 was very glad to see it, though I anticipated some nasty 

 places, especially above Cotatoire. However, there being 

 little snow, we got along without any difficulty, though 

 here and there we had to pass along some narrowish 

 places above the couloir which yawned below us un- 

 pleasantly. Above the yellow cornice is the worst, 

 but there being no snow at this spot it was easily 

 passed. After about two hours' hard walking and 

 scrambling we came in sight of the men, Celestin and 

 Michell, standing warming themselves at a blazing log 

 and gazing up to the precipitous sides of the buttress. 

 When we got down to them, they pointed out a very 

 fine young male bouquetin, about 500 feet up, standing 

 looking out of a kind of hole and regarding us with 

 apparent composure. He evidently did not think 

 himself quite safe, from the manner in which he peered 

 sideways out of his hole from time to time. The 

 question was how to get at him. We were half afraid 

 he could get up the buttress, in which case we were 

 done with him ; however, we considered that if he could 

 get there without coming down, he would have done so 

 already. After much consideration we decided that I 

 was to try and stalk him, and that Arthur should go 

 and post himself at the foot of the buttress in case he 

 got away from me. As soon as I saw Arthur near his 

 place I started, leaving Antoine and Vincent to watch 

 him below. We were obliged to make a long detour 

 in deep snow in order to get out of his sight, but at last 

 arrived at a spot from which we could just see the head 

 of the rascal still peeping about carefully. The sides 

 of the precipice are here much disintegrated, so that 

 though steep we could clamber up and down and along 



