110 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



killed, fifty were shot quite lately. The order was 

 given to destroy them, so the under-gamekeepers shot 

 all they could find." 



"But what a pity to exterminate them in that 

 way!" 



" Pity indeed, for they do no harm to anybody, 

 there is nothing for them to destroy. But you see it 

 is close to the frontier, and poaching now is carried 

 on so audaciously that we have no alternative but to 

 shoot everything." 



" Had you ever an adventure with any of the 

 poachers there?" I asked. 



" Oh, yes," said he ; " and once in particular 1 

 acted foolishly enough : I went to a hut, and finding 

 the door fastened on the inside, suspected there were 

 some fellows inside. Foolhardy as I was, I went to 

 the back window and tried to get in there. I had 

 got my shoulders through, when what should I see 

 through the door that divided the hut but a band 

 of poachers who had taken shelter there? Back I 

 squeezed myself quick enough, you may be sure. 

 The fellows saw me too, but I was off and behind a 

 tree just in time." 



"Did they not follow you?" 



" Not they ; some came as far as the door, but when 

 they found I was not to be seen they did not trust 

 themselves any further ; for had I liked, the first that 

 came out might have had a ball sent through him; 

 and that they knew." 



"And how did you get off?" 



