116 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



the pathway, or mighty stems cut down and left to 

 rot during succeeding winters. On the hill-side great 

 pines were standing out against the sky, half-uprooted 

 by the blast that had descended upon them suddenly 

 from above ; and others, scathed and shivered, were 

 crushing with their weight a young forest that had 

 sprung up beneath their shade. On looking upwards, 

 on both sides and before you was dark solemn foliage, 

 and afar off perhaps and high up a sharp line, beyond 

 which was the welcome sky. We were indeed in the 

 mountains. 



Continually ascending, we went on till we came to 

 a steep slope. Above us the trees were not so dense, 

 and we were able to see far from the spot where we 

 stood. We looked, and in silence. Presently, with his 

 eyes still fixed on some object above him, Max pulled 

 out his telescope and made a survey. 



" There are chamois," he said. "I see one, but 

 there are others, I know." 



The chamois he now pointed out to me I had seen 

 some minutes before ; but as it was a great way off, 

 and quite motionless, I had not recognized it. In- 

 deed one is constantly deceived ; for at a distance a 

 chamois is but a small black spot, and stones and 

 bushes often assume the appearance of the game ; it 

 is only when you examine them through your glass, 

 that you see what they really are. 



"But how are we to get at them?" observed my 

 companion, looking round and examining the relative 

 position of the chamois and ourselves. It really was 



