108 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



day/' said Berger ; "I am quite sure it was more than 

 a hundred and thirty yards. When looking upwards 

 from below, one sees how far it is." 



By the time we got to the green hill-side where we 

 first saw the chamois, the rain had ceased, the gloom 

 had disappeared, and air and sky were bright again. 

 Berger proposed that I should take my stand at a 

 certain tree, while he would go down to the path, and 

 entering the wood some distance off, pass through it 

 in an oblique direction. 



" Most likely it is not empty/' said he ; " and if 

 chamois are there, they will come out near yonder 

 trees, pass within shot of you, and then bear away 

 in a curve for the higher ground*. Here you have 

 chance enough, and if anything comes you will have 

 a fair shot, though perchance a long one. However, 

 any you may get here will be easy after that of yes- 

 terday." 



I took up my position beside the withered trunk 



* It may often seem unaccountable to one not a sportsman, how 

 the movements of the game can be predicted with such certainty. 

 It depends of course very much on the nature of the ground, as 

 well as on the habits of the animal in question. Sometimes how- 

 ever, as in certain steep gullies, there is but one single path by which 

 man or beast can get out of them ; and if the hunter can reach that 

 spot unobserved he is sure of a shot eventually ; for as soon as the 

 chamois are disturbed, by the rolling of a stone or any other means 

 taken to make them move, on they come to the well-known path. 

 Perhaps they may observe their danger : if they do, they will stand 

 still and gaze before attempting the pass ; and then, well aware that 

 it is the sole place of egress, they will rush headlong forwards, braving 

 in their extremity every danger. Chamois perceive in an instant the 

 perils of their position when retreat is thus cut off, and their con- 

 sternation is great and evident. 



