130 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



dough-like. A slice of bread and a good draught of 

 water completed the repast. We had lighted one of 

 the long dry resinous strips of wood, and stuck it into 

 the wall to serve us as a lamp while supping ; but now, 

 while sitting over the embers, we from time to time 

 flung a dry chip or two upon them, and the flickering 

 flame they made threw around a sufficient light. The 

 shutters of the windows were well closed and fastened 

 on the inside, a very necessary precaution, for should 

 a poacher chance to approach a hut whence he saw a 

 light gleaming through the crevices, it would be an 

 easy matter for him, as the forester was sitting over 

 his fire, to gratify revenge, and, stealing quietly to the 

 window, send a bullet through his heart. It is one 

 of the first things therefore on such occasions to see 

 that all is safe*. 



As I sat there enjoying to the full all the comfort 

 of my situation, I could not but feel thankful to the 

 dairy-maids who had left the hut in so neat a state, 

 and enabled us so easily to satisfy our wants. 1 

 said as much to Maxl, but he did not seem to think 

 it called for any praise. " A fine thing indeed," ex- 

 claimed he, " if the wenches were to go away and not 

 leave all in order ! I should like to catch them doing 

 such a thing ! A good rating they 'd get for their 



* Not long before I was at Fischbachau one of the keepers was 

 sitting at table with his wife and her little baby in her arms, when 

 a blunderbuss loaded with slugs was fired through the window into 

 the room. The wall opposite still had the shot-marks scattered over 

 it. Luckily no one was hurt. And this summer (1851) one of the 

 foresters near Ratisbon had a gun fired into his room at night when 

 his family were around him : this time too all escaped. 



