216 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



rifle raised the whole time, ready to take advantage of 

 the least movement of the poachers which should pre- 

 sent never so small a mark to aim at. Once he thought, 

 if he took great care and was very steady, he might 

 hit one. He only saw a part of his head: he fired, 

 and shot the poacher's cap off. The bullet just grazed 

 the tree in passing, so little did the man's head pro- 

 ject beyond it ; but Bauer thought he might manage 

 to hit him, and, you see, he very nearly did so." 



"Well, but how did the affair end?" 



" Oh, there they remained opposite each other till it 

 grew dark, and then they went off: for in the dark, 

 you know, neither could see to fire at the other in 

 going away. The next day they found the roebuck 

 and the cap lying on the ground, and saw where the 

 bullet had grazed the tree. Joseph's arm was shat- 

 tered above the elbow, and it is the greatest wonder 

 that he did not lose it entirely. He cannot use it 

 much, but it is better than having none. It is stiff 

 and very weak ; but being the right arm, he can still 

 shoot with a rifle, which he is very glad of." 



At the Solachers' all were at home, and Joseph the 

 elder brother too, who had returned from Munich, 

 where he had been when I was last at his cottage. 

 He had got a prize the first if I remember rightly- 

 consisting of a most splendid flag, besides a sum of 

 about 6. The flag was of blue silk, with the royal 

 arms embroidered in relief in the centre, and bordered 

 with silver fringe and tassels. It was a trophy that 

 any one might have been proud to carry off. 



