A DAY'S SPORT ON THE KRAMMETS BERG. 171 



to the crest of the mountain a considerable distance 

 to the right of where we were ascending. "Don't 

 you see them ? yonder, right up against the sky." 



On the ridge were several black forms moving 

 about, now vanishing, then re-appearing. As we 

 got higher we saw them quite distinctly even without 

 the glass ; and it was a pretty sight to watch them as 

 they disported themselves, leaping and bounding over 

 the ground. When a stag is thus seen in bold relief 

 against the blue background no sight can be grander : 

 his majestic form appears of a portentous size, and as 

 he tosses his antlers in the air they seem to shake 

 the sky. 



" We must keep away to the left, or they will see 

 us," said Xavier. " There are many together, and no 

 doubt more are lower down, although we don't see 

 them from here : those above will soon be moving 

 downwards. It is lucky we were off in such good 

 time this morning ; this is just the right moment for 

 them." 



" There will hardly be a buck among them, I fear : 

 you can't make one out, can you?" 



" No, as yet those I see are all does ; but there may 

 be one perhaps lower down among the latschen." 



We now kept to the left, and passed over the 

 shoulder of the hill, so that our heads might not be 

 seen by them as we ascended in a line parallel with 

 the spot where they stood. The latschen through 

 which we crept were thick, and it was difficult to get 

 along. Once on the ridge, we still remained on the 



