TO HOHENBURG AND KREUTH. 205 



" Yes, he was out with his rifle, and alone. For 

 three whole days his friends a band of them 

 scoured the mountain in search of him, but could 

 find nothing. They knew he had gone there, be- 

 cause he said he intended doing so ; besides the last 

 time he had been seen alive was by a boy who met 

 him on the way ; but with all their trouble they dis- 

 covered nothing. 



" And what did they think had become of him?" I 

 asked. 



" Oh, no doubt he was shot, and the body hidden 

 somewhere. A mountain, to be sure, is a large thing ; 

 yet if he had slipped down anywhere, some trace of 

 him would surely have been found, for every part 

 was searched day after day, and I know not how 

 many there were out looking for him. They were 

 in a great rage, suspecting he had been shot ; and if 

 they could have had the slightest proof of this against 

 any of the gamekeepers, they would have taken a 

 terrible revenge." 



At last we saw Kreuth below us while crossing 

 the oozy meadows on the hill-side ; and, soaking as 

 we both were, the smoke that crept lazily upwards 

 through the misty rain from the chimney of the inn 

 was a welcome and cheerful sight. I had a warm meal 

 set before my guide ; and as the days were now short, 

 and it was important he should reach home before it 

 grew dark, he soon set off on his way back. My first 

 visit was to the forester's house, where I learned that 

 Max Solacher had shot a good stag the day before, 



