A DAY'S SPORT ON THE KRAMMETS BERG. 185 



below, so that we both had our trouble for nothing. 

 Coming down the chimney, it not being narrow 

 enough, I found to be more difficult work than get- 

 ting up. 



The chamois was now some distance lower than 

 ourselves; before going after it therefore we looked 

 for the slot of the one that had made off. The traces 

 of blood on the rocks showed it had taken a direction 

 that led out of the clam. Higher up was a much 

 worse place than where we had just been. 



" It is very difficult to get out yonder," said Xavier. 

 " The chamois has gone there, and has probably stolen 

 away among the latschen." 



" Have you ever been out that way?" 



" Yes, once," he answered : " I was up here one 

 day, so I thought I would see if there was a way out 

 or not ; 'tis a terrible place, I assure you." 



There was a broad, slanting surface of crumbling 

 rock where we now stood, like an immense table, one 

 end of which was lifted very high. It seemed as if this 

 must lead out of the clam, or at least to a good height 

 up its side ; on this therefore I advanced cautiously. 

 The slope did not end on the ground, but about 

 twenty -five or thirty feet from it, and then fell abruptly 

 to the jagged rocks below. The plane was so inclined 

 that to walk there was hardly possible. Every now 

 and then the brittle surface would crack off : however, 

 difficult as it was, and in spite of a slip or two, I 

 managed to proceed. At last I was obliged to go on 

 all fours. Some minutes after I began to slip back- 



