244 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



fired, he whom I had let pass unscathed, though I 

 could have taken his life twenty times had I so willed. 

 It was racking work, racing down that steep over the 

 broken ground : every instant I expected another ball 

 to be sent after us : my mouth was parched, my chest 

 was heaving, and as soon as we reached a wood I 

 declared I would run no further. We sat down there- 

 fore behind a tree, where we were safe enough; for 

 if the men approached we should be sure to see them 

 first, and we both agreed, if they did come, this time 

 to fire. Each of us had two shots, and these would 

 be quite enough to stop their advance. But all was 

 still, and having rested we walked slowly homewards. 



" I was right you see, Berger," I said as we went 

 along ; "it was a stone I heard rolling ; the man was 

 just above us at the time, and dislodged it as he 

 passed." 



" Yes, he went along the ridge to drive the game for 

 the others, who were among the rocks ; they were the 

 same we tracked across the meadows this morning; 

 I was sure they were bound for the mountain." 



It was really very extraordinary that the whole 

 affair turned out as it did. The poacher must have, 

 passed the spot on the ridge where we sat down, but 

 a minute before our arrival. Had we by chance 

 spoken in coming up he would have heard us, and 

 would very likely have let fly at one or the other. If 

 too we had got there one half minute sooner, we must 

 have met face to face. It is to this moment a matter 

 of surprise to me that the man did not hear our steps ; 



