240 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



garment with the point of my knife, in this wise tied 

 up the rents. I could not help laughing at our droll 

 figures while thus employed ; but Berger looked grave, 

 and I saw that anger was devouring him. 



" Here Berger, drink ! " said I, handing him the 

 leather covering which, when it rained, I strapped 

 over my gun-lock, and in which, for want of anything 

 better, I Jiad fetched water and mixed with some 

 rum from my flask ; but he refused it, saying, " I can't 

 drink, nor eat either : something is here that seems 

 to lace my chest together, and there is a gnawing 

 at my stomach, as though a wolf were inside. Those 

 rascals ! Eor a jager to be obliged to run before such 

 fellows ! If only they don't find our sticks, that 

 would be a triumph for them ! " 



There was no consoling him. " Had I been alone,' 1 

 he continued, "those rascals should not be able to 

 say they made me run : they have something to brag 

 about now." 



" But Berger," I replied, " why did you do so 

 then? I followed your directions implicitly, and left 

 you to decide what was to be done. I don't think you 

 can complain of my behaviour in the matter." 



" No indeed, that 's true enough ; but you see, I 

 could not know that beforehand ; and besides if any- 

 thing had happened to you, I should have been respon- 

 sible : 'twould be said, I ought not to have led you 

 into the danger, and all the blame would have fallen 

 on me. But had I been alone, 1 should have crept 

 into the latschen and staid there, and I know they 



