278 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



lowing their movements with our telescopes, and then 

 I took out our brown bread, and ate, while enjoying 

 the scene. 



"Have you an apple?" I asked. 



"No." 



" What a pity ! if you had, we could have a splendid 

 meal. Is there no water near? for I am thirsty." 



" None about here ; even the nearest place is a 

 great distance off. 



Though the mountains opposite us were far away, 

 the bells of the grazing cattle and the shouts of the 

 herdsman came across to us distinctly, floating on the 

 motionless air. 



Our dry bread being eaten we went on. To the 

 right was a dip in the mountain, and here we ex- 

 pected to see chamois. It was an inviting spot ; and 

 formerly, as Neuner told me, we should have been 

 sure to find some. We looked around, but not a 

 creature was visible. After a time we left our path 

 along the ridge, and advancing among the latschen 

 sat down and watched. We peered around in vain, 

 examining every dark green patch of herbage, and 

 each spot lying in the sunshine, where at this hour 

 they would most likely be. We were both looking 

 in one direction, and by chance at the same moment 

 turned our heads ; when behold, on a pinnacle of 

 rock, rising among the herbage, there stood a chamois ! 

 " Look, a chamois ! " each exclaimed, a buck too ! 

 and quick as thought my finger drew back the cock 

 of the rifle, and I was cautiously raising it, when the 



