294 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



" Bauer shot one there the other day, just there, 

 between yonder woods, where you see a way cut 

 through them," said Neuner, pointing to a grassy 

 avenue leading from the smooth green meadow away 

 into the forest. " Game would quickly be here, if 

 there was only a little peace. The red-deer, that used 

 to quit their haunts at certain seasons, now stay and 

 drop their young here ; and in the rutting season the 

 stags have their appointed places too. Tor some years 

 this has been the case; formerly they never did so. 

 With a little quiet, I should soon have a fair stock 

 again, for all the places about here are favourable 

 for deer and chamois ; they can maintain themselves 

 on the mountains, and there are sheltered spots for 

 them in winter, just such places as they like. And 

 you see how beautifully all is connected, how all ad- 

 joins and hangs together : I would not wish a finer 

 forest, and it used to be my greatest delight ; but now, 

 I don't know how it is, all my pleasure is at an end." 



" But things will change," I said; "be sure matters 

 cannot go on as they are now, they must mend." 



" Oh, you can form no idea of the endless disagree- 

 ables we have to go through. There are our master's 

 rights to defend; and if we do so, never so mildly, 

 then the peasants, every one of them, abuse us in all 

 possible ways. They think now they have a right to 

 everything : they want wood given them, or permis- 

 sion to collect litter* for their stables, and are greatly 



* The peasantry in Germany collect the dead leaves in the forests 

 to make litter for their cattle in the stables in winter. Though of 



