ON THE MOUNTAIN. 225 



signalled to us. Joseph went first, winding himself 

 through the stubborn branches with all haste; for 

 when we had gone half-way a huge volume of mist 

 rose suddenly from the valley, and we saw it, in thick 

 folds, advancing with threatening speed. Once over 

 that stony spot where the chamois were, and he knew 

 they would be snatched from our sight ; and therefore 

 it was that he made such precipitate haste, causing 

 him to be less cautious than he would otherwise have 

 been. The elastic branches, instead of being put 

 gently, almost lovingly, aside, rustled as he pressed 

 through them, and the chamois heard it. 



" Be quick !" he said, " or we shall be too late ; the 

 mist is sweeping on fast." 



And just as we reached the edge of the latschen, 

 the vast form, indistinct in outline, but of gigantic 

 stature, trailed past. The chamois were already gone, 

 and we afterwards saw the buck some hundred yards 

 before us, making for the fastnesses where he knew 

 none could follow him. He walked slowly, stopping 

 every few paces to look back, and then uttering a shrill 

 whistle went on again. 



Right trusty friends as the latschen always prove 

 to the chamois-hunter in his need, equally troublesome 

 are they on other occasions. To pass a thick growth 

 of them is an arduous business. You have no ground 

 to tread on, so thickly are their creeping stems inter- 

 woven ; and if you place your foot on their branches, 

 it slides down, and they spring up with a jerk, knock- 

 ing you probably off your balance. But it is not your 



