TO HOHENBURG AND KREUTH. 207 



them. Before us was a vast hollow, broken here and 

 there, and partly filled . with high latschen. We sat 

 down, and peered around for them in vain. Yet they 

 had passed there, for we distinctly made out their 

 trail upon the ground. Presently an unusual sound 

 rose on the air, and came floating up from the dark 

 hollow it was their voices ; and we now saw them 

 going up the other side, where they all sat down, while 

 one took out a glass and examined the slopes above 

 which we were sitting. 



" He is looking at us/' said I to Solacher. 



" No, he could not distinguish us where we are ; 

 besides the others are talking and laughing," he 

 continued, still looking through his glass, "and if 

 he had perceived us they would all be looking this 

 way." 



When they moved we rose and followed, till at last 

 they stopped at a hut built on a clearing of the moun- 

 tain : just below them lay a tree, blown down by the 

 wind ; behind this we took up our position, so near 

 that we could almost hear what they said. 



"I see!" said Maxl, "they intend stopping there 

 tonight, to be ready betimes tomorrow morning. 

 Ha, ha !" he exclaimed, "the door is locked and they 

 can't find the key." The men were evidently hunt- 

 ing for something in all directions. Some climbed 

 up and searched beneath the eaves, while another 

 felt in holes and corners where the missing object 

 was likely to be. At last it was found, and they all 

 disappeared within the hut. Turning our heads by 



