APPROACHING THE MOUNTAINS. 25 



them till they were out of sight behind the rising 

 ground where we stood. As we rose to go we saw 

 them again among the bushes : they now perceived 

 us too ; and, as if to show that they did not care for 

 having been seen, began whistling and making all sorts 

 of jeering noises till we were out of sight. " They 

 will be out betimes tomorrow, no doubt," said Meier ; 

 "they will try for the stag, too, I dare say/' 



We came to the farm. It was a large building on 

 a pleasant meadow, surrounded by the mountains. 

 On entering, the cheerful blaze of a fire burst upon 

 us, at which the supper for the maids and labourers 

 was being prepared. Now a cow-herd, now a dairy- 

 maid dropped in, and exchanged a word with my 

 companion, or stopped and chatted with us both and 

 asked about our plans for the morrow. A savoury 

 omelet was soon frying on the kitchen-fire, and this, 

 with a slice of bread and a glass or two of beer, 

 formed an excellent supper. An elderly woman was 

 our cook, who, it seemed, had to provide for and 

 superintend the others, and was in fact a sort of 

 housekeeper. Knowing I had come from Munich, 

 she asked if I knew Professor von Kobell*, " he who 



* Franz von Kobell is well known as the author of some volumes 

 of poems in the Bavarian dialects. Being my friend, I might be 

 deemed partial were I to speak of him as I would wish. It fre- 

 quently amused me, during my stay in the mountains, to find there 

 were three names which were like familiar household words in every 

 part I came to that of H.E.H. Duke Max in Bavaria, Professor 

 von Kobell, and Count Max Arco-Hohenburg. Whenever these 

 were mentioned, and I said I had the honour of being acquainted 

 with the Duke, and that the two others were my intimate friends, it 



