

APPROACHING THE MOUNTAINS. 15 



They are splendid animals of the Altgau breed ; short 

 legged, full uddered, and with dewlaps like the Col- 

 chian bulls. Many are the bells they wear, long, 

 broad bells, of sweetly sonorous metal, fastened round 

 their strong necks by a thick strap of leather. But 

 the foremost one has alone the coronal: she is to 

 walk first, nor would she let one of the others pass her 

 on any account whatever. She maintains her place in 

 front as resolutely as I have known une Dame dupalais 

 insist upon having the pas when other ladies were 

 present ; and she heads the procession with a sturdy 

 air, and a look of ineffable contempt for all going on 

 around. Nor is it mere fancy that she is proud of her 

 pre-eminence ; she knows as well as you do that she 

 is to be first; and she deserves her rank, for in 

 truth she is a splendid creature. And behind comes 

 the tall herdsman, his hat more than usually gay with 

 flowers, and with a tuft of fine yellow feathery grass, 

 that looks not unlike the plumage of the bird of para- 

 dise. How proudly he walks behind his troop, while 

 the gardens that border the road are filled with gazers ; 

 and further on, the Queen and her ladies are waiting 

 to see the cattle returning home to the valley. He 

 looks calmly about him, but greets no one : he feels 

 that to-day he is the principal personage ; he is cele- 

 brating his triumph. I would fain wager though, 

 when he sees the sweet friendly face of the young 

 Queen yonder, his countenance will relax somewhat, 

 and that it will soften and suddenly grow bright 

 like a cloud when a sunbeam falls upon it. Follow- 



