UP THE MOUNTAIN. 287 



I stood and the tower-like rock where the chamois 

 was first seen. But now we looked and we saw him 

 not. Between us and the rock on which my every 

 hope was centered there rose another, hiding a part 

 of the first from view. I fancied the buck might be 

 just behind that rock, and whispered it to Neuner. 

 "If so/' I said, "he will for certain come in sight 

 again on one side of it or the other; 5 ' for the nearer 

 crag, being less broad than the further one, hid just 

 the middle part from our sight. 



" How far is it from here to yonder bare rock on 

 the left?" I asked; "it is there I expect he will 



come." 



" A hundred and forty yards ; not more I think, 

 but quite as much certainly." 



For a long long time we waited, but in vain. At 

 last Neuner proposed to return to the ridge whence 

 we first saw the buck, and look if he was still there. 

 After awhile I saw him standing motionless on the 

 crest of the mountain, and gazing steadily into the 

 depth below. He made a sign that nothing more was 

 to be seen. This was certainly not cheering, but I did 

 not yet despond, and still believed the chamois was 

 on the rock and would eventually move into sight. 

 But another half hour dragged by, and then another, 

 and at last I reluctantly acknowledged to myself that 

 I gave him up. But as Neuner still stood on high 

 peering forth from his eyrie, I would not quit my 

 station, incommodious as it was to stand between, 

 and partly upon, the branches of the latschen. And 



