53 



CHAPTER VI. 



UP THE MIESING. 



THE morning was clear and bright, and not a breath 

 of wind was stirring, an essential thing for the cha- 

 mois hunter ; for if the air be not calm, all his skill, 

 perseverance, and daring will avail him nothing. At 

 best even it is difficult to calculate on the gusts that 

 will sometimes come suddenly rushing up a chasm, 

 or sweeping downwards just as he gets round the 

 shoulder of a mountain. Thus, when he thinks all is 

 won, and he rejoices in his panting heart at the suc- 

 cess which is about to crown his labour, the taint of 

 his presence will be borne along on the rippling air, 

 and the herd on whom for the last hour his longing 

 eye has been so intently fixed looks round affrighted, 

 conscious of the neighbourhood of an enemy, utters 

 a shrill whistle, and, mounting over the sharp ridge 

 of an opposite mountain, is seen for one moment in 

 bold relief against the sky, and then disappears on 

 the other side. But we had no cause to fear that 

 our hopes would be marred by such a circumstance. 



