UP THE MOUNTAIN. 277 



extent, and range, and space, for some minutes before 

 reason informs you about them, a sensation that 

 takes you by surprise, that comes rushing in upon 

 you, and lording it for the moment over the faculties 

 of the mind; and though this eventually gives place 

 to a calm comprehension of extent, reaching further 

 than the eye can follow, it is after all that first im- 

 pression which is remembered long afterwards, that 

 first sensation of being in presence of a vast thing, 

 but as yet uncertain, vague, and undefined ; for later, 

 when we look about for forms and mark particular 

 outlines, there is already a diminution of the glory. 



Lying on the earth we wound forwards, and taking 

 off our hats looked down into the green valley. Far, 

 far below chamois were seen : out came the telescopes 

 quickly, and we counted seventeen of them. On the 

 side of the mountain we could everywhere see their 

 traces in the snow. 



"They have been here early this morning," said 

 Neuner : " we are rather late ; those other chamois 

 kept us so long. That is the essential thing, to be at 

 the top early. What a bad wind we have ! it comes 

 up from behind us, without blowing up from the valley 

 in front too." 



" We could not do anything, even if they were not 

 so far ; we should never be able to reach them." 



" Besides," said Neuner, who was still watching the 

 chamois through his glass, " there is not a buck among 

 them : they are all does." 



We lay there awhile, examining the herd, and fol- 



