190 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



" I will look after the chamois tomorrow, with the 

 dog," said Xavier: "there is no fear of our losing 

 him, he is badly wounded, and is, I dare say, not 

 far off. But now we must think of going homeward, 

 for we have a long distance to walk and it soon gets 

 dark. Let me see, where is the best way out?" he 

 continued, examining the steep rock: "up yonder I 

 think we can manage it :" and lifting the chamois on 

 his back he at once set off. But to get up a smooth 

 rock with a dead weight of fifty pounds at your back 

 is not so easy ; holding my pole therefore for him to 

 step on, and disencumbering him of his rifle, which I 

 handed up to him afterwards, he mounted the rocks, 

 and we were soon out of the clam and on the green 

 mountain-side. Now then homewards ! 



In a few hours' time we saw the forester's house 

 among the trees, and as we came nearer yes, surely 

 it was no delusion green arches erected over the road 

 that led thither ; the doorway too was festively adorned 

 with green wreaths, and all looked gay enough. We 

 soon learned that the King had arrived; and the whole 

 house was in a bustle of preparation, getting the rooms 

 in order, preparing dinner, etc., etc. All were busied 

 sufficiently without having an extra visitor ; so I deter- 

 mined to go on to the Fall that same night, and the 

 next morning walk to Hohenburg, a castle formerly 

 the residence of his highness Prince Leiningen, but 

 now belonging to a friend of mine. I therefore bade 

 Xavier promise he would not fail to look after the 

 chamois on the morrow, and, taking a glass of ale and 



