224 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



" the right foot can be placed, and on that point the 

 left : yonder grows a solitary latschen ; if I reach it I 

 may then hold on and let myself down to the bit of 

 rock below, and once there the rest will be somewhat 

 easier." Now, your companion, who is below you 

 and two can always get on better in the mountains 

 than one drives the point of his pole into a crevice, 

 and holds it horizontally for you to step upon ; or 

 you plant yours upright, and keeping it so, he holds 

 by it while letting himself down over a slope of rock, 

 whose surface is so smooth and steep that not even a 

 cat could pass there ; and when he is down he returns 

 you the same good office, as, lying on your back with 

 your feet in his hands, you slide slowly downward till 

 you have found a footing. 



Joseph was at a distance, among the thick branches 

 of some latschen, and by their help he got on famously. 

 We crept silently to a sharp rocky ridge, and looked 

 over. 



"They are still there!" whispered Joseph; "now 

 which is the best way of getting near them? That 

 buck is worth having." 



After reconnoitring the ground, it was arranged 

 that Berger should remain where he was, while Joseph 

 and myself passed along the ridge, keeping our heads 

 just below the sky-line, and go on thus till we reached 

 some latschen; then creeping quietly through these, 

 advance as near as possible to where the buck lay 

 at rest, and fire. We reached the first latschen, and 

 still the chamois remained where they were, as Berger 



