UP THE MIESING. 75 



" No, he is certainly lower down/* I answered. 

 " Look ! we are still comparatively near the summit 

 of the mountain ; and if you remember, from thence 

 it seemed some distance to where he was at rest ; from 

 yonder ridge however we should certainly catch sight 

 of him." Having clambered thither, Berger suddenly 

 exclaimed, " Hist ! there he is ! It is far, but still 

 within range : take your time !" The report of my 

 rifle thundered among the rocks, and again and again 

 it reverberated, till at last, like thunder heard afar still 

 faintly rolling, it gradually died away. 



" You have missed him ! " 



" That I don't think. I had him capitally, and the 

 rifle went off just as I could wish ; I was as steady 

 too as possible." 



" It may be ; but you see, he is moving away," said 

 Berger gloomily. 



"I see he is going ; but he moves quite differently 

 now. Look, he staggers ; his step is uncertain, is it 

 not?" 



"He is off nevertheless." 



" Well, I '11 go to the spot where he was standing, 

 and then we shall soon see whether I have missed or 

 not." 



There we found hair strewn about, and a pool of 

 fresh blood. At the sight of it Berger's face cleared 

 up, and with light hearts we followed the slot of the 

 wounded animal. The snow was dyed red where he 

 had passed, and the herbage was wet and crimsoned 

 on both sides of his path. 



