54 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



Whilst I breakfasted Berger got ready the rifles ; 

 for not having calculated on being able to go out here, 

 I had not brought mine with me. We went past the 

 little chapel of Birkenstein, whither many a pilgrim 

 resorts, 'and on through pleasant meadows shut in 

 by gentle slopes covered with wood. And now we 

 emerge into a broad valley, and before us is the 

 Miesing, and to the left the Wendelstein, with its high 

 conical summit, whence, according to the song, may be 

 seen the two tall church towers* "of the great city 

 where the King dwells." It is a striking feature in 

 the mountain-chain, for, though not the highest of the 

 peaks, it seems to be so, rising as it does abruptly and 

 and alone. A few cottages were clustered together 

 beside a stream at no great distance from our path, 

 and cattle were grazing in the several fields, while a 

 little peasant boy poured forth his orisons, for such 

 I took his gladsome song to be, in that fair temple 

 not built by human hands. 



As we went along, the neighbouring mountains 

 suggested many a tale of interest to the hunter. 

 "There," said Berger, pointing to a wood on our 

 right half-way down the hill- side, " there, two years 

 ago, was a stag of sixteen. Such a stag ! his antlers 

 were splendid ; and what a size he was !" 



"And who shot him?" I asked. 



" That I don't know. The foresters saw him often, 

 and could have shot him many a morning had they 

 liked; but Count Arco had given strict orders to 



* Of the church of Our Lady in Munich. 



