A DAY'S SPORT ON THE KRAMMETS BERG. 175 



when, by some mischance or want of skill, he causes 

 an animal unnecessary suffering. Unfortunately the 

 very circumstance I am always so anxious to avoid 

 was afterwards to happen with one of these chamois ; 

 the saddest to witness that ever occurred to me in my 

 hunting experiences. 



Giving way to my companion I left the clam, and 

 going along the ridge above it, we crept softly down 

 the mountain-side, so as to get on a line level with the 

 spot where the chamois were standing. The latschen 

 were scattered about everywhere pretty thickly ; and 

 it was as difficult to get through the stubborn branches 

 without their rustling or rebounding, as it was to see 

 the chamois, even when within shot of them. At last 

 we reached a spot where we could look upon a glade, 

 as it were, among the bushes ; and here they passed 

 or paused a moment or two as they chased each other : 

 it was a merry company. We lay flat on the ground, 

 with our chins in a bush, and watched them. 



" I don't see a buck, do you, Xavier ?" said I. 



" No, I hardly think there is one. It is almost 

 too late now. But a doe is there," he continued, 

 with his eye still to his glass, " with curious horns : 

 one is upright and the other grows forwards straight 

 out of her forehead. Look," pointing with his glass, 

 " don't you see that one to the right, half standing 

 on a fragment of rock ? that is the one. It is a long 

 shot, but you would hit it." 



I looked and saw the curious growth, and wished 

 to possess the trophy. But then too I longed for a 



