240 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



He nodded his head, while his eyes sparkled with 

 expectation. We let him proceed on his path, and 

 when he was behind a piece of rising ground, rose up 

 and stole along after him : then we again lay down 

 pretty close to him. How both laughed, as we saw 

 him looking carelessly about, unconscious of danger; 

 while all the time we could have struck him with a 

 ball when and where we chose ! 



" Hush ! now then, don't laugh," said Berger : "as 

 soon as we get near enough we '11 rush upon him. 

 Have you all ready?" 



" Yes, yes ; both barrels are cocked, and my pole 

 that I shall leave here in the latschen ; give me yours, 

 I '11 put them together." 



" But don't fire, promise me that. You will not 

 fire?" he asked. 



"No, no, don't be alarmed; I won't fire: if how- 

 ever I see him attempt to raise his rifle, then down he 

 goes." 



" Very well then," he said : " now come on." 



We moved along with all speed in order to get 

 close up to him, a block of stone lying right be- 

 tween us ; when we reached it he was only a few 

 steps in advance. Berger turned his head to see if I 

 was ready : I nodded, and at the same moment he 

 sprung towards the poacher, I being close behind 

 him. " Down with your rifle, you rascal ! Lay down 

 your rifle ! " In rushing upon him however his foot 

 slipped, and thus he lost a second, and the fellow just 

 eluded his grasp. Had a mountain been hurled down 



