UP THE MOUNTAIN. 281 



"Who are they?" I asked. 



"People digging gentian-roots; they are always 

 seeking them, and disturbing the game ; it never has 

 any peace. There are two women and a man/' con- 

 tinued he, examining them with his glass; "they 

 are not from Partenkirchen, but come from a village 

 yonder." 



Though far away we could hear them distinctly 

 when they spoke, and their hearty laugh came ring- 

 ing on our ear, and sounded gladdening among those 

 lonely rocks. 



We were ascending the last rise of the mountain, 

 when Bursch (the dog) came running to us in evident 

 fear. 



" Himmel, Donner Wetter ! " cried Neuner, seizing 

 his rifle with the quickness of thought : instinctively 

 I seized mine while springing round to meet the 

 danger, and cocked it in a second; for I thought a 

 poacher had stolen upon us and was close at hand. 

 But it was no such enemy that Bursch had run from : 

 a large vulture was wheeling upwards and bearing 

 away from us, and was now so far that it would have 

 been useless to send a bullet after him in his flight. 



"Had we seen him sooner, I might have had a 

 shot," said Neuner. " Four florins are given for every 

 one we deliver to the head-forester." 



" Are they very large ? " I asked. 



" Seven feet from wing to wing ; and they are 

 strong too ; they carry away the young kids. When 

 the chamois see one wheeling in the air, there is a 



