126 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



we could do nothing, and they will be there tomor- 

 row for certain : we shall then be able to get at them 

 better, and may make sure of a shot/' 



The hut where we intended to take up our lodging 

 for the night was, thus late in the season (October 15), 

 of course deserted. The cows had gone down into 

 the valley, and with them the blithe dairy-maids. But 

 when they leave their summer abode the door is not 

 locked ; a latch only keeps it from being blown open 

 by the wind ; so that the hunter, should he be over- 

 taken by night or by a storm, can enter there and 

 find a comfortable shelter. We went up the steps, 

 lifted the latch, and entered. Nothing could be neater 

 than the room : it was as clean and nicely arranged as 

 if prepared for a visitor. On one side was a raised 

 hearth of stone, about two feet and a half from the 

 ground : it was large, and necessarily so, for there in 

 summer-time, in a huge copper vessel suspended over 

 the fire by a sort of crane fixed in the wall, the pre- 

 parations for cheese-making are carried on. The wall 

 above the hearth was neatly white-washed, as well as 

 the stones round the hearth itself. Above it was a 

 pile of dry thin laths for lighting a fire, and in one 

 corner a goodly stack of logs for fuel. On a shelf near 

 were some lucifer-matches and a horn spoon; and 

 there was a simple broom, fan-shaped and made of 

 heather, left as a hint for the sojourner there, before 

 he left, to make all as tidy as he had found it. Max 

 went down a few steps in one corner of the room into 

 the cellar, having first lighted one of the long pieces 



