58 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



was the worst part. However, I took another way 

 than in going up. I pulled off my shoes, for you can 

 then feel your ground better, and take hold of every 

 little projection with your toes." 



" But that must have hurt you terribly?" 

 " No ; I was then accustomed to go barefoot, and 

 would formerly much rather have climbed so than 

 down with thick nailed shoes on. Once before I came 

 down yonder wall from over the ridge : it was ugly 

 work, I can tell you. We drove the game that day, 

 and I had to go over the top and roll down stones to 

 make the chamois cross to the other side." 



We had now wound upwards for about an hour, 

 when we left the path and turned off to our right 

 among some latschen and huge blocks of stone. We 

 had not gone many yards when Berger dropped to the 

 earth, as though a shot had passed through his heart. 

 He raised his finger to indicate silence, his eyes were 

 opened wide with expectation, and his lips drawn apart 

 as if uttering a " Hush !" though not a breath passed 

 over them. We cowered behind the stones, and he 

 whispered, "There are chamois!" We crept on a 

 little further; the end of my pole shod with iron 

 touched a stone and made the metal slightly ring. 

 Berger turned round with a reproving look, and 

 made me a sign to exchange mine for his, which was 

 not shod. We advanced and lay behind a bush, and 

 drew out our glasses. Five chamois were there, graz- 

 ing on the slope, skirted by a wood. Berger 's whole 

 frame was alive with expectation ; his face wore quite 



